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The Hill
26 minutes ago
- The Hill
With no access to education beyond the 6th grade, girls in Afghanistan turn to religious schools
KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — For six hours every day after school, Nahideh works in a cemetery, collecting water from a nearby shrine to sell to mourners visiting loved ones' graves. She dreams of becoming a doctor — but knows it is a futile dream. When the next school year starts, she will be enrolling in a madrassa, a religious school, to learn about the Quran and Islam — and little else. 'I prefer to go to school, but I can't, so I will go to a madrassa,' she said, dark brown eyes peering out from beneath her tightly wrapped black headscarf. 'If I could go to school then I could learn and become a doctor. But I can't.' At the age of 13, Nahideh is in the last grade of primary school, the limit of education allowed for girls in Afghanistan. The country's Taliban government banned girls from secondary school and university three years ago — the only country in the world to do so. The ban is part of myriad restrictions on women and girls, dictating everything from what they can wear to where they can go and who they can go with. With no option for higher education, many girls and women are turning to madrassas instead. The only learning allowed 'Since the schools are closed to girls, they see this as an opportunity,' said Zahid-ur-Rehman Sahibi, director of the Tasnim Nasrat Islamic Sciences Educational Center in Kabul. 'So, they come here to stay engaged in learning and studying religious sciences.' The center's roughly 400 students range in ages from about 3 to 60, and 90% are female. They study the Quran, Islamic jurisprudence, the sayings of the Prophet Muhammad, and Arabic, the language of the Quran. Most Afghans, Sahibi noted, are religious. 'Even before the schools were closed, many used to attend madrassas,' he said. 'But after the closure of schools, the interest has increased significantly, because the doors of the madrassas remain open to them.' No recent official figures are available on the number of girls enrolled in madrassas, but officials say the popularity of religious schools overall has been growing. Last September, Deputy Minister of Education Karamatullah Akhundzada said at least 1 million students had enrolled in madrassas over the past year alone, bringing the total to over 3 million. Studying the Quran Sheltered from the heat of an early summer's day in a basement room at the Tasnim Nasrat center, Sahibi's students knelt at small plastic tables on the carpeted floor, their pencils tracing lines of Arabic script in their Qurans. All 10 young women wore black niqabs, the all-encompassing garment that includes a veil, leaving only the eyes visible. 'It is very good for girls and women to study at a madrassa, because … the Quran is the word of Allah, and we are Muslims,' said 25-year-old Faiza, who had enrolled at the center five months earlier. 'Therefore, it is our duty to know what is in the book that Allah has revealed to us, to understand its interpretation and translation.' Given a choice, she would have studied medicine. While she knows that is now impossible, she still harbors hope that if she shows she is a pious student dedicated to her religion, she will be eventually allowed to. The medical profession is one of the very few still open to women in Afghanistan. 'When my family sees that I am learning Quranic sciences and that I am practicing all the teachings of the Quran in my life, and they are assured of this, they will definitely allow me to continue my studies,' she said. Her teacher said he'd prefer if women were not strictly limited to religious studies. 'In my opinion, it is very important for a sister or a woman to learn both religious sciences and other subjects, because modern knowledge is also an important part of society,' Sahibi said. 'Islam also recommends that modern sciences should be learned because they are necessary, and religious sciences are important alongside them. Both should be learned simultaneously.' A controversial ban The female secondary and higher education ban has been controversial in Afghanistan, even within the ranks of the Taliban itself. In a rare sign of open dissent, Deputy Foreign Minister Sher Abbas Stanikzai said in a public speech in January that there was no justification for denying education to girls and women. His remarks were reportedly not well tolerated by the Taliban leadership; Stanikzai is now officially on leave and is believed to have left the country. But they were a clear indication that many in Afghanistan recognize the long-term impact of denying education to girls. 'If this ban persists until 2030, over four million girls will have been deprived of their right to education beyond primary school,' UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell said in a statement at the start of Afghanistan's new school year in March. 'The consequences for these girls — and for Afghanistan — are catastrophic. The ban negatively impacts the health system, the economy, and the future of the nation.' The importance of religious education For some in this deeply conservative society, the teachings of Islam are hard to overstate. 'Learning the Holy Quran is the foundation of all other sciences, whether it's medicine, engineering, or other fields of knowledge,' said Mullah Mohammed Jan Mukhtar, 35, who runs a boys' madrassa north of Kabul. 'If someone first learns the Quran, they will then be able to learn these other sciences much better.' His madrassa first opened five years ago with 35 students. Now it has 160 boys aged 5-21, half of whom are boarders. Beyond religious studies, it offers a limited number of other classes such as English and math. There is also an affiliated girls' madrassa, which currently has 90 students, he said. 'In my opinion, there should be more madrassas for women,' said Mukhtar, who has been a mullah for 14 years. He stressed the importance of religious education for women. 'When they are aware of religious verdicts, they better understand the rights of their husbands, in-laws and other family members.'
Yahoo
31 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Idaho Lottery results: See winning numbers for Powerball, Pick 3 on July 23, 2025
Looking to win big? The Idaho Lottery offers several games if you think it's your lucky day. Lottery players in Idaho can chose from popular national games like the Powerball and Mega Millions, which are available in the vast majority of states. Other games include Lotto America, Lucky For Life, 5 Star Draw, Idaho Cash, Pick 3 and Pick 4. Big lottery wins around the U.S. include a lucky lottery ticketholder in California who won a $1.27 billion Mega Millions jackpot in December 2024. See more big winners here. And if you do end up cashing a jackpot, here's what experts say to do first. Here's a look at Wednesday, July 23, 2025 results for each game: Winning Powerball numbers from July 23 drawing 02-18-19-25-35, Powerball: 25, Power Play: 3 Check Powerball payouts and previous drawings here. Winning Pick 3 numbers from July 23 drawing Day: 3-2-6 Night: 1-6-3 Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here. Winning Pick 4 numbers from July 23 drawing Day: 5-8-2-8 Night: 3-2-5-9 Check Pick 4 payouts and previous drawings here. Winning Lucky For Life numbers from July 23 drawing 05-09-11-30-47, Lucky Ball: 08 Check Lucky For Life payouts and previous drawings here. Winning Lotto America numbers from July 23 drawing 04-32-36-39-52, Star Ball: 01, ASB: 02 Check Lotto America payouts and previous drawings here. Winning Idaho Cash numbers from July 23 drawing 10-19-24-42-44 Check Idaho Cash payouts and previous drawings here. Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results When are the Idaho Lottery drawings held ? Powerball: 8:59 p.m. MT Monday, Wednesday and Saturday. Mega Millions: 9 p.m. MT on Tuesday and Friday. Pick 3: 1:59 p.m. (Day) and 7:59 p.m. (Night) MT daily. Pick 4: 1:59 p.m. (Day) and 7:59 p.m. (Night) MT daily. Lucky For Life: 8:35 p.m. MT Monday and Thursday. Lotto America: 9 p.m. MT on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday. 5 Star Draw: 8 p.m. MT on Tuesday and Friday. Idaho Cash: 8 p.m. MT daily. Winning lottery numbers are sponsored by Jackpocket, the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network. Where can you buy lottery tickets? Tickets can be purchased in person at gas stations, convenience stores and grocery stores. Some airport terminals may also sell lottery tickets. You can also order tickets online through Jackpocket, the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network, in these U.S. states and territories: Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Idaho, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Puerto Rico, Washington D.C., and West Virginia. The Jackpocket app allows you to pick your lottery game and numbers, place your order, see your ticket and collect your winnings all using your phone or home computer. Jackpocket is the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network. Gannett may earn revenue for audience referrals to Jackpocket services. GAMBLING PROBLEM? CALL 1-800-GAMBLER, Call 877-8-HOPENY/text HOPENY (467369) (NY). 18+ (19+ in NE, 21+ in AZ). Physically present where Jackpocket operates. Jackpocket is not affiliated with any State Lottery. Eligibility Restrictions apply. Void where prohibited. Terms: This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a USA Today editor. You can send feedback using this form. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Idaho Lottery results, winning numbers: Powerball, Pick 3, more
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Louisiana Lottery Powerball, Pick 3 results for July 23, 2025
The Louisiana Lottery offers several draw games for those aiming to win big. Here's a look at July 23, 2025, results for each game: Winning Powerball numbers from July 23 drawing 02-18-19-25-35, Powerball: 25, Power Play: 3 Check Powerball payouts and previous drawings here. Winning Pick 3 numbers from July 23 drawing 3-7-0 Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here. Winning Pick 4 numbers from July 23 drawing 9-8-0-6 Check Pick 4 payouts and previous drawings here. Winning Pick 5 numbers from July 23 drawing 7-0-8-2-8 Check Pick 5 payouts and previous drawings here. Winning Easy 5 numbers from July 23 drawing 02-12-19-34-37 Check Easy 5 payouts and previous drawings here. Winning Lotto numbers from July 23 drawing 23-30-33-35-38-40 Check Lotto payouts and previous drawings here. Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results Are you a winner? Here's how to claim your lottery prize All Louisiana Lottery retailers will redeem prizes up to $600. For prizes over $600, winners can submit winning tickets through the mail or in person at Louisiana Lottery offices. Prizes of over $5,000 must be claimed at Lottery office. By mail, follow these instructions: Sign and complete the information on the back of your winning ticket, ensuring all barcodes are clearly visible (remove all scratch-off material from scratch-off tickets). Photocopy the front and back of the ticket (except for Powerball and Mega Millions tickets, as photocopies are not accepted for these games). Complete the Louisiana Lottery Prize Claim Form, including your telephone number and mailing address for prize check processing. Photocopy your valid driver's license or current picture identification. Mail all of the above in a single envelope to: Louisiana Lottery Headquarters 555 Laurel Street Baton Rouge, LA 70801 To submit in person, visit Louisiana Lottery headquarters: 555 Laurel Street, Baton Rouge, LA 70801, (225) 297-2000. Hours: 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. This office can cash prizes of any amount. Check previous winning numbers and payouts at Louisiana Lottery. When are the Louisiana Lottery drawings held? Powerball: 9:59 p.m. CT Monday, Wednesday and Saturday. Mega Millions: 10 p.m. CT Tuesday and Friday. Pick 3, Pick 4 and Pick 5: Daily at 9:59 p.m. CT. Easy 5: 9:59 p.m. CT Wednesday and Saturday. Lotto: 9:59 p.m. CT Wednesday and Saturday. This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Louisiana editor. You can send feedback using this form. This article originally appeared on Shreveport Times: Louisiana Lottery Powerball, Pick 3 results for July 23, 2025 Solve the daily Crossword
