Women | Samira Asghari, Afghanistan's first IOC member, told Zan Times the IOC proposed to the Taliban that sport continue in girls' primary schools, grades one to six

ACW | October 23, 2026 — Samira Asghari, the first Afghan member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), told Zan Times in an interview published on October 22 that the IOC has proposed to the Taliban that sport stay active in girls' schools from grades one to six.

According to Asghari, the aim is for girls to become familiar with sports such as basketball, football and taekwondo. She said the Taliban's Ministry of Justice had sent the IOC a letter stating that it does not oppose women's sport. The interview does not give the date of that letter.

Asghari said a Taliban official had told her: "Don't lose hope; we are pursuing this matter, and it is on our agenda." The official was not named in the interview.

Referring to Taliban arrests of women and girls in recent months, including a woman athlete in Herat, she said she does not recommend forming underground teams or clubs. Women inside Afghanistan, she said, should exercise individually, as far as it is safe, and not give up sport.

Asghari also urged sports federations to start forming and preparing teams now if they aim to compete at the 2028 Games. The Taliban have not responded to her remarks.

Background: According to Zan Times, Asghari became Afghanistan's first IOC representative in 2018 and previously captained the national team. The IOC did not suspend Afghanistan's National Olympic Committee after the Taliban returned to power in August 2021. ACW has previously reported that the number of women lecturers at Afghan universities has fallen to just over 100.

Why it matters: The IOC proposal, as described by Asghari, is tied to grades one to six, the only level of education the Taliban still allow girls. Asghari called depriving girls even of this minimal access to sport "a betrayal of them."

ACW will continue to follow this story.

Source: Zan Times — interview with Samira Asghari: Will women's sports return to Afghanistan?

Photo: Zan Times (courtesy of Samira Asghari)