Taliban authorities in Afghanistan have freed an academic who was detained for a month&nbsp;after he protested against the regime's ban on women's education. The academic's aide confirmed his release to news agency AFP on Monday (March 6). Ismail Mashal, the academic who is a veteran journalism lecturer tore up his degree certficates on live TV in December to protest against the Taliban's treatment of women. The clip had gone viral in Afghanistan.

He was detained in February after domestic channels showed him carting books around Kabul and offering them to passersby.

Mashal was released on Sunday after more than a month in detention, aide Farid Fazli said.

"I can confirm that he was released yesterday. He is fine and in good health," Fazli told AFP.

"However, he is not in a condition to talk at the moment."

Mashal's release comes as universities across Afghanistan reopened on Monday after a winter break, but only for men as women remained barred from attending class.

After taking over Afghanistan quickly as the US-led coalition left the country, the Taliban sought to project a soft image and had even indicated that women's education would continue. However, as month passed the regime increasingly imposed social restrictions on women. This has caused global outrage but has did little to deter the Taliban.

Mashal, a lecturer for more than a decade, was in February "mercilessly beaten and taken away in a very disrespectful manner by members of the Islamic Emirate," referring to the Taliban government, according to Fazli.&nbsp;

The detention of activists like Mashal "instils fears in the community and has a chilling effect on the overall enjoyment of fundamental freedoms," the UN special rapporteur on human rights in Afghanistan, Richard Bennett, told the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva on Monday.

(With inputs from agencies)

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Taliban authorities in Afghanistan have freed an academic who was detained for a month after he protested against the regime's ban on women's education. The academic's aide confirmed his release to news agency AFP on Monday (March 6).

Taliban authorities in Afghanistan have freed an academic who was detained for a month after he protested against the regime's ban on women's education. The academic's aide confirmed his release to news agency AFP on Monday (March 6). Ismail Mashal, the academic who is a veteran journalism lecturer tore up his degree certficates on live TV in December to protest against the Taliban's treatment of women. The clip had gone viral in Afghanistan. He was detained in February after domestic channels showed him carting books around Kabul and offering them to passersby. Mashal was released on Sunday after more than a month in detention, aide Farid Fazli said. "I can confirm that he was released yesterday. He is fine and in good health," Fazli told AFP. "However, he is not in a condition to talk at the moment." Mashal's release comes as universities across Afghanistan reopened on Monday after a winter break, but only for men as women remained barred from attending class. After taking over Afghanistan quickly as the US-led coalition left the country, the Taliban sought to project a soft image and had even indicated that women's education would continue. However, as month passed the regime increasingly imposed social restrictions on women. This has caused global outrage but has did little to deter the Taliban. Mashal, a lecturer for more than a decade, was in February "mercilessly beaten and taken away in a very disrespectful manner by members of the Islamic Emirate," referring to the Taliban government, according to Fazli. The detention of activists like Mashal "instils fears in the community and has a chilling effect on the overall enjoyment of fundamental freedoms," the UN special rapporteur on human rights in Afghanistan, Richard Bennett, told the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva on Monday. (With inputs from agencies) You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

Taliban free academic who protested ban on women's education

According to reports, the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/thousands-of-afghans-still-wait-at-kabul-airport-us-allies-issue-advisory-407518">Taliban</a> has banned co-education in government and private universities in Herat.

Khaama Press news agency reported the decision was taken&nbsp;after a meeting between professors, owners of private institutions and Taliban leaders.

Watch:

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-afghan-women-challenge-talibans-rule-407334/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Reports said women&nbsp;lecturers would be allowed to teach only female students and not male students. <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/talibans-websites-go-offline-as-social-media-giants-crackdown-on-group-407446">Taliban's</a> representative and head of higher education in the country Mullah Farid reportedly said co-education was the "root of all evils in society".

Reports had claimed earlier that women were being asked to go back home from their workplace as the militant group took control of the country.

<img alt="Schools girls in Herat" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="a71422c2-11eb-4aa3-a5ba-e89233a830a5" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Herr1.jpg" />

Taliban spokesperson earlier in the week had said that women "can get education from primary to higher education -- that means university", however, the militant group's spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid had added that it should within the norms of Islamic law.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/spirit-of-sport-afghanistans-cricket-team-attends-training-session-in-kabul-see-pics-407546">In Pics:&nbsp;Afghanistan's cricket team attends training session in Kabul</a>

Another Taliban spokesman Suhail Shaheen had claimed that women "can get education from primary to higher education that means university".

Girls had reportedly returned to classrooms wearing hijabs as schools reopened in Herat this week. Herat is a key trading city with close proximity to the Iranian border and lies along the ancient Silk Road famous for its poetry and arts.

Reports said the Taliban in Kunduz were allowing women's education but under strict gender segregation norms. Women teachers have reportedly not been allowed to work alongside men.

The Taliban have reportedly also not allowed music or singing in Kunduz as some reports claimed women had started wearing the burqa out of fear.

(With inputs from Agencies)

According to reports, the Taliban has banned co-education in government and private universities in Herat. Khaama Press news agency reported the decision was taken after a meeting between professors, owners of private institutions and Taliban leaders.

According to reports, the Taliban has banned co-education in government and private universities in Herat. Khaama Press news agency reported the decision was taken after a meeting between professors, owners of private institutions and Taliban leaders. Watch: Reports said women lecturers would be allowed to teach only female students and not male students. Taliban's representative and head of higher education in the country Mullah Farid reportedly said co-education was the "root of all evils in society". Reports had claimed earlier that women were being asked to go back home from their workplace as the militant group took control of the country. Taliban spokesperson earlier in the week had said that women "can get education from primary to higher education -- that means university", however, the militant group's spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid had added that it should within the norms of Islamic law. In Pics: Afghanistan's cricket team attends training session in Kabul Another Taliban spokesman Suhail Shaheen had claimed that women "can get education from primary to higher education that means university". Girls had reportedly returned to classrooms wearing hijabs as schools reopened in Herat this week. Herat is a key trading city with close proximity to the Iranian border and lies along the ancient Silk Road famous for its poetry and arts. Reports said the Taliban in Kunduz were allowing women's education but under strict gender segregation norms. Women teachers have reportedly not been allowed to work alongside men. The Taliban have reportedly also not allowed music or singing in Kunduz as some reports claimed women had started wearing the burqa out of fear. (With inputs from Agencies)

Taliban bans co-education in Herat as girls return to classrooms

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Taliban free academic who protested ban on women's education

Taliban bans co-education in Herat as girls return to classrooms