Taliban split over religion, power and girls’ schools

KANDAHAR, Afghanistan—Taliban government ministers thought the issue of girls’ education was settled. Schools for girls over grade six were due to reopen last March, after months.

Then the Taliban religious council, dominated by ultra-conservative clerics, thwarted the plan. Hours before the school gates were supposed to reopen, it was announced that they would remain closed. Teenage girls who showed up to school in uniform were turned away.