Women in Afghanistan weep as Taliban fighters enforce a university ban.

On Wednesday, Taliban security forces in Kabul enforced a higher education ban for women by barring their access to universities, with video obtained by The Associated Press showing women weeping and consoling each other outside one campus.

The country’s Taliban rulers had ordered women nationwide to stop attending private and public universities immediately and until further notice the day before. The Taliban-led administration has not explained the ban or responded to the outpouring of global condemnation.

On Wednesday, journalists observed Taliban forces outside four Kabul universities. The forces prevented some women from entering while allowing others to enter and complete their work. They also attempted to prevent any photography, filming, or protests from occurring.

Kabul University spokesman Rahimullah Nadeem confirmed that female students’ classes had been canceled. He stated that some women were permitted on campus for paperwork and administrative purposes and that four graduation ceremonies were held on Wednesday.

On Wednesday morning, activists from the Unity and Solidarity of Afghanistan Women gathered outside Kabul’s private Edrak University, chanting slogans in Dari.

“Do not politicize education!” they exclaimed. “Women are again barred from attending university; we do not want to be eliminated!”

Despite promising a more moderate rule that respects women’s and minorities rights, the Taliban have widely implemented their interpretation of Islamic law, or Sharia, since seizing power in August 2021.