Srinagar, Sept. 19 -- The Taliban government in Afghanistan has removed books written by women from the university curriculum as part of a sweeping new ban that also outlaws the teaching of human rights and sexual harassment.

According to officials, around 680 books have been blacklisted for being "against Sharia and Taliban policies." Among them, 140 are authored by women, including academic works such as Safety in the Chemical Laboratory.

The Taliban's Ministry of Higher Education has also barred 18 university subjects, six of which focus on women, such as Gender and Development, The Role of Women in Communication, and Women's Sociology. Authorities said these subjects "conflict with Sharia principles and government policy."

The move...