Hawzah News Agency – Following the decision by the de facto government of Afghanistan to maintain an earlier ban on girls' schools, the General Secretariat of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) expresses its deep disappointment over this unexpected decision.

Though the General Secretariat recognizes that the government in place in Kabul has made some undeniable progress on a few important issues, it still feels concerned that such a decision might send out a negative signal that its commitments, as is the case with the promise to allow high school-aged girls to resume schooling, are not duly fulfilled.

As the OIC continues its constructive engagement with the de facto authorities through the good offices of the OIC Secretary General's Special Envoy for Afghanistan, it expresses its deep frustration with this reversal.

Afghan people, boys and girls, need to see their fundamental rights, including but not limited to, education fully respected in a bid to ensure that Afghanistan wades its way toward stability and economic prosperity.