His Excellency Mullah Sheikh Abdul Baqi Bassir, Minister of Higher Education in the current authority in Afghanistan, held a meeting with a delegation of Muslim scholars visiting Kabul headed by Prof. Koutoub Moustapha Sano, Secretary General of the International Islamic Fiqh Academy (IIFA), on Saturday 26 Dhu al-Qi’dah 1443H corresponding to 25 June 2022G at Kabul International Airport in the Afghan capital, Kabul.

His Excellency the Minister welcomed the delegation of Muslim scholars and thanked them for their visit to the Afghan capital, Kabul, with the aim of meeting with the prominent scholars of Afghanistan and officials in the current Afghan government, hoping that this visit would not be the last visit of scholars and officials from Muslim countries. Then, His Excellency touched on the efforts made and are still being made by the current authority in Afghanistan to enable all Afghans to receive education at stages, noting in the meantime that universities are open to both sexes, and primary schools are also open to both sexes. As for the intermediate and secondary levels, they are still not open because of obstacles and difficulties that the authority looks forward to the cooperation and support of Muslim countries and the international community in order to remove them as soon as possible so that the girls of the two mentioned stages can resume their studies. His Excellency also affirmed that the Islamic Emirate fully believes that education is one of the basic rights of both sexes, and therefore it will do everything in its power to guarantee that right for all members of the Afghan society. His Excellency concluded by appealing to the delegation of scholars to mediate with their countries in order to provide moral support and material assistance in order to upgrade the infrastructure of educational institutions, and to lift restrictions on the movements of His Excellency, his deputy and some officials so that they can communicate with the international community in everything related to the development of education in Afghanistan.

For his part, His Excellency the Secretary General, head of the delegation, expressed the delegation’s thanks to His Excellency for giving him the opportunity to meet with him despite his many preoccupations. He also expressed the delegation’s gratitude to the ruling authority for the welcome, good reception and hospitality the delegation received, praising the historic meeting that brought together the delegation and prominent Afghan scholars the other day.

Then His Excellency clarified that the visit of the delegation of scholars to Afghanistan led by the Academy comes as implementation of the resolution of the Ministerial Council of Foreign Ministers of the Member States of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), in order to discuss and engage with Afghan scholars and Afghan officials on a number of issues and topics of concern to the Afghan people, especially the issue of girls’ education and Afghan women’s participation in building society, and the issue of tolerance and coexistence among followers of religions and sects. His Excellency pointed out that what the delegation heard from prominent Afghan scholars and senior officials on the subject of education in general and girls’ education warmed their hearts and reassured them that the return of girls in the intermediate and secondary levels to their schools is only a matter of time, and will be achieved soon, after removing the difficulties and logistical obstacles that are considered the main reason for postponing the resumption of their studies. His Excellency noted that the delegation of scholars will convey with honesty, trust and sincerity to the leaders of their countries the needs of the Afghan people and the current authority, and they will strive to meet those needs as soon as possible.

At the end of the meeting, His Excellency renewed the delegation’s invitation to visit Afghanistan again for consultation and dialogue on all issues and questions of concern to the Afghan people.