‘Deliberately designed to isolate girls’

He told SBS News he started the initiative when he realised that millions of girls had suddenly been stripped of their right to learn.

Adelaide-based Erfan Abidi an underground network of schools after Taliban banned girls from education in 2021. Today his initiative connects hundreds of girls across Afghanistan who are studying in secret or online. Credit: Supplied by Erfan Abidi

“The aim was to advocate, educate and empower girls even under strict restrictions and limited resources, while also drawing global attention to this cruel decision,” he said.

The online teachers are based in different countries, including Australia, the United States, and Europe, and connect with students in Afghanistan using secure apps and platforms.

“These blackouts are deliberately designed to isolate girls and prevent the world from seeing what is happening inside Afghanistan.”

‘Vital lifeline for the people’

It leaves offices, homes and other businesses without an internet connection. However, internet access on cell phone data will be available, officials said.

“For many, especially youth and women, online access is the only way to study, gain knowledge and engage with the wider world.”

‘Inhuman and dangerous’

“If pornography is really the concern, like as in many Islamic countries, it can easily be filtered. Many countries in the Islamic world do exactly that,” he said.