A group of more than 80 Afghan women studying in Oman on a U.S.-funded scholarship are facing deportation to Afghanistan after their scholarship was abruptly terminated as part of the Trump administration’s foreign aid cuts. The State Department has not responded to requests for comment, and the women are appealing for urgent help to continue their studies and avoid persecution and life-threatening risks if forced to return to Afghanistan.
The Women’s Scholarship Endowment program, which provided scholarships for Afghan women in Oman, was among the programs scrapped in the USAID cuts. With the Taliban back in power in Afghanistan, women are facing severe restrictions on education and employment, making it a dangerous prospect for the students to return.
Efforts are being made by nonprofit groups to resolve the situation with the government of Oman. The scholarship program had been funded through an endowment, and the sudden termination has left more than 120 Afghan students in a precarious situation.
Lawmakers, including Rep. Seth Moulton, have criticized the cancellation of the scholarship program, calling it shameful and urging the Trump administration to reverse course. The abrupt end to the program has put the lives of these bright young women at risk and could effectively amount to a death sentence if they are forced to return to Afghanistan. The women are pleading for support to avoid being sent back to a country where their safety and future are in jeopardy.
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