Reopen Afghan women's access to UK education
The Issue
Petition started by Yama Mujadidi and Carrie Patsalis.
In support of Afghan women students’ right to take up the university places they have earned.
Girls in Afghanistan are banned from education beyond the age of 12. Yet many have risked their own lives to continue to learn in secret, online, or through underground classes.
In 2025, a small number of Afghan women secured places at the top universities in the UK, including Oxford University. However, now it’s not just the Taliban banning women from education; it’s the UK government.
Imagine opening an email offering you a place at one of the best universities in the world after years of discrimination, oppression and sacrifice, only to later be told you are no longer allowed to come.
The UK government says these restrictions are based on percentages of visa holders later claiming asylum. But many people do not understand how the system works. Pakistan had 5,570 student-linked asylum claims — the largest number — but because there were many more Pakistani students overall, this represented 14% of study visas issued to Pakistani nationals in the same period. Afghanistan had far fewer claims — around 470 — but because far fewer student visas were issued, the figure was recorded as 131%.
This issue is not about blaming Pakistani nationals or suggesting they should face restrictions too. The question is whether percentages alone tell the full story. Afghanistan is under Taliban rule. Girls are already denied education at home, and many have risked everything simply to continue learning.
As a country with freedoms and opportunities that many do not have, the UK should be supporting those at their most vulnerable — not closing one of the few doors still open to them.
This petition asks the government to review the evidence, explain the decisions made and protect genuine students whose opportunities have already been taken away once before. Those students who have earned places to start this September should be allowed to come.
If you live in the UK and have a UK address, please also sign the official UK Parliament petition here:
https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/764063
570
The Issue
Petition started by Yama Mujadidi and Carrie Patsalis.
In support of Afghan women students’ right to take up the university places they have earned.
Girls in Afghanistan are banned from education beyond the age of 12. Yet many have risked their own lives to continue to learn in secret, online, or through underground classes.
In 2025, a small number of Afghan women secured places at the top universities in the UK, including Oxford University. However, now it’s not just the Taliban banning women from education; it’s the UK government.
Imagine opening an email offering you a place at one of the best universities in the world after years of discrimination, oppression and sacrifice, only to later be told you are no longer allowed to come.
The UK government says these restrictions are based on percentages of visa holders later claiming asylum. But many people do not understand how the system works. Pakistan had 5,570 student-linked asylum claims — the largest number — but because there were many more Pakistani students overall, this represented 14% of study visas issued to Pakistani nationals in the same period. Afghanistan had far fewer claims — around 470 — but because far fewer student visas were issued, the figure was recorded as 131%.
This issue is not about blaming Pakistani nationals or suggesting they should face restrictions too. The question is whether percentages alone tell the full story. Afghanistan is under Taliban rule. Girls are already denied education at home, and many have risked everything simply to continue learning.
As a country with freedoms and opportunities that many do not have, the UK should be supporting those at their most vulnerable — not closing one of the few doors still open to them.
This petition asks the government to review the evidence, explain the decisions made and protect genuine students whose opportunities have already been taken away once before. Those students who have earned places to start this September should be allowed to come.
If you live in the UK and have a UK address, please also sign the official UK Parliament petition here:
https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/764063
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Petition created on 25 June 2026