KABUL: The Taliban government in Afghanistan has removed books authored by women from university curricula as part of a sweeping new ban that also prohibits teaching human rights and sexual harassment.

Authorities identified 680 books considered “of concern,” including 140 written by women, with titles such as Safety in the Chemical Laboratory.

These were deemed to conflict with “Sharia and Taliban policies.”

Universities have also been instructed to stop teaching 18 subjects, with a Taliban official explaining that these courses were “in conflict with the principles of Sharia and the system’s policy.”

This decree is the latest in a series of restrictions the Taliban have imposed since returning to power four years ago, further curtailing academic freedom and limiting educational opportunities for women.