More than 80 Afghan women who fled Taliban rule to pursue higher education in Oman are now at risk of deportation to Afghanistan after their US-funded scholarships were abruptly canceled. The scholarships, provided under the Women’s Scholarship Endowment (WSE) program and funded by the US Agency for International Development (USAID), were terminated following a sweeping foreign aid freeze ordered by President Donald Trump after his return to office in January.
The students, who were informed of the decision last week, expressed shock and despair. “It was heartbreaking,” one student told the BBC, speaking anonymously due to safety concerns. “Everyone was shocked and crying. We’ve been told we will be sent back within two weeks.”
**Risk of Persecution**
Since the Taliban regained control of Afghanistan nearly four years ago, they have imposed harsh restrictions on women, including banning them from universities and most forms of employment. The Afghan women in Oman, many of whom fled Pakistan last September after waiting in limbo for 18 months, now fear for their safety if forced to return.
“If we are sent back, we will face severe consequences,” one student said. “It would mean losing all our dreams. Many of us could also be at personal risk due to our past affiliations and activism.”
The students were pursuing graduate and postgraduate studies in STEM fields, which are now effectively inaccessible to women under Taliban rule. They had secured scholarships before the Taliban’s takeover in 2021 and were relocated to Oman between October and November 2024 under USAID-facilitated visas.
Emails reviewed by the BBC confirm the termination of their scholarships, describing the news as “profoundly disappointing and unsettling.” The emails also mention arrangements for their return to Afghanistan, raising concerns among the students.
**Aid Freeze and Political Fallout**
The Trump administration’s decision to freeze USAID funding has faced legal challenges but has already led to the termination or suspension of thousands of humanitarian programs worldwide. The White House has defended the move as part of broader government efficiency reforms.
White House Deputy Press Secretary Anna Kelly attributed the crisis facing Afghan women to the US military’s withdrawal from Afghanistan under the Biden administration, stating, “Afghan women are suffering because Joe Biden’s disastrous withdrawal allowed the Taliban to impose medieval Sharia law policies.”
The funding freeze has been implemented by Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency, part of the Trump administration’s initiative to reduce federal spending.
**Calls for Urgent International Intervention**
The Afghan students are now appealing for urgent intervention from the international community, seeking financial assistance and resettlement to a safe country where they can continue their education.
“When we arrived, our sponsors told us not to return to Afghanistan until 2028 because it was unsafe. And now they’re telling us to go back,” one student said.
The Taliban has cracked down on women protesting for education and employment, with activists reporting arrests, beatings, and threats. Women in Afghanistan describe themselves as “dead bodies moving around” under the regime’s oppressive policies.
The US State Department has yet to comment on the situation, while the USAID website’s media contact page remains offline.
With deportation proceedings expected to begin soon, the Afghan women in Oman face an uncertain and perilous future, highlighting the urgent need for international support and action.
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