More than 80 Afghan women who fled the Taliban regime to study in Oman are facing deportation back to Afghanistan after their U.S.-funded scholarship was canceled as part of the Trump administration’s foreign aid cuts. The women, studying at the Middle East College of Oman, received an email informing them of the termination of the program, leaving them at risk of persecution and life-threatening risks upon returning to Afghanistan. The program was part of the Women’s Scholarship Endowment launched in 2019 with a $50 million endowment from USAID, covering the cost without additional annual funding. Despite attempts by nonprofit groups to resolve the situation with the Omani government, more than 120 Afghan students had their scholarship funding cut off. The Taliban’s resurgence in Afghanistan has led to severe restrictions on women, including banning them from education and employment, limiting their freedom of speech and movement. Rep. Seth Moulton described the cancellation of the scholarship program as shameful and urged the Trump administration to reverse its decision, emphasizing that innocent lives are at risk of a death sentence due to the abrupt cancellation of their educational opportunities. The Afghan students are appealing for urgent help to continue their studies abroad and avoid the dangerous situation awaiting them upon their return to Afghanistan.
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