More Afghan Schoolgirls Poisoned, Taliban Blamed

Taliban Blamed for Another Attack On Afghan Schoolgirls in Takhar province

Staff Report

TALIQAN, AFGHANISTAN - While President Obama recently talked of withdrawing troops from Afghanistan, the Taliban are continuing their campaign of terror. In another brazen attack on school-children, insurgents have been blamed for poisoning 122 schoolgirls and three female teachers, according to CNN. The latest incident occurred in the in the Bibi Hajera girls school which is located in the provincial capital of Talokhan (TALIQAN).

The children and women were overcome by poisonous fumes Wednesday and taken to nearby hospitals for treatment. This is the second of this type of attack in as many months.

"The Afghan people know that the terrorists and the Taliban are doing these things to threaten girls and stop them going to school," said Khalilullah Aseer, spokesman for Takhar police, according to CNN. "That's something we and the people believe. Now we are implementing democracy in Afghanistan and we want girls to be educated, but the government's enemies don't want this,"

In April of this year, more than 170 women and girls were hospitalized after drinking apparently poisoned well water at a school in Takhar province. Local health officials blamed the acts on extremists in the area that are opposed to women's education.

During the Taliban's rule from 1996 to 2001, many Afghan girls were not allowed to attend school. Things improved briefly for women after 2001, but recently there have been many reports of attacks and intimidation on women for going against the Taliban's way of doing things.