A group of more than 80 Afghan women studying in Oman under a U.S.-funded scholarship program are at risk of deportation to Afghanistan after their program was canceled as part of the Trump administration’s cuts to foreign aid. The women received an email informing them of the termination of their scholarship, leaving them in a dire situation with looming persecution and life-threatening risks if they are forced to return to Afghanistan. The program, called the Women’s Scholarship Endowment, was launched in 2019 with a $50 million endowment from USAID, and interest from the endowment covered the costs without requiring additional annual funding. Nonprofit groups are now working with the government of Oman to resolve the situation and prevent the women from being sent back to Afghanistan.
Since the Taliban returned to power in 2021, they have imposed strict restrictions on women, including banning them from education and most employment. The cancellation of the scholarship program has been criticized by Rep. Seth Moulton as “shameful,” calling on the Trump administration to reverse course and not put innocent lives at risk. The situation highlights the vulnerability of Afghan women and the importance of educational opportunities provided by international aid programs. It is a life-or-death situation for these women who fear persecution and oppression if they are forced to return to a country ruled by the Taliban.
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