Afghanistan: Acid Attack Affects Attendance at Girls Schools

The acid attack on school girls in the southern Kandahar province on Nov. 12 has affected attendance of students in girls schools in the city of Kandahar.

A survey report shows that families of students are worried about the security of their children and are reluctant to send them to schools. Members of Afghan Parliament from Kandahar and a number of journalists confirm this report but the Directorate of Education of the province denies it.

An official of the Directorate said that the schools are open and girls were attending and the incident has terrorized students but not affected their attendance in schools.

Meanwhile, 17-years-old Shamsia, who is one of the victims of the acid attack, and whose face is badly burnt, was shifted to a hospital in Kabul where students of different schools visited her and expressed their sympathy.

She thanked the visitors and vowed to carry on her education despite the attacks: ‘if the terrorists and enemies of Afghanistan even try to kill me they will not succeed to halt my education, I will attend my school as soon as I am out of the hospital, because our country needs education and only the education is a solution of the problems of our beloved Afghanistan,’ she told reporters and visiting students, teachers and parents.

The incident was condemned by President Hamid Karzai, Afghan Parliament, the U.S. first lady Laura Bush, and human rights organizations in Afghanistan and around the world. Many individuals and organizations have come forth to assist the victim girls and their families.