Ismail Mashal: Taliban arrests Afghan professor who backed girls' education

A university professor in Afghanistan who is an outspoken critic of the Taliban's ban on education for women and girls has been arrested in Kabul.

Prof Ismail Mashal was detained on Thursday while handing out free books.

He rose to prominence after he tore up his academic records live on television in protest against the Taliban's ban on university and secondary school education for women and girls.

Prof Mashal, 37, has been accused of "provocative actions" by the Taliban. read more