RASC News Agency: Local sources in Herat province told RASC News that the Taliban have prohibited students at Herat University from using smartphones.
According to the sources, on Wednesday, June 17, students at Herat University were warned that they are not permitted to carry or use smartphones while traveling to, attending, or remaining on university grounds. The sources added that students found in possession of smartphones could face disciplinary measures and punishment.
The decision comes after similar restrictions were previously reported in the provinces of Balkh and Kandahar, where the Taliban imposed limitations on the use of smartphones by government employees and a number of school teachers, either banning or severely restricting their use.
Some education experts argue that such measures could seriously hinder the learning process, limit students’ access to educational resources, and disrupt academic communication and research activities.
Meanwhile, critics describe the move as part of the Taliban’s broader campaign to tighten control over technology and educational freedoms. They warn that restrictions of this nature further isolate Afghanistan from the global academic community and the rapidly expanding digital world.
