内容摘要：A mother whose daughter was born prematurely is retraining as a midwife.

A mother whose daughter was born prematurely is retraining as a midwife.

"Fiqh is not included in mainstream schools or universities. As a Muslim woman, studying Fiqh is vital for women's betterment," she says."Understanding concepts such as ghusl – ablution – the distinctions in prostration between genders, and the prerequisites for prayer are crucial."

However, she adds that madrassas "cannot serve as a substitute for mainstream schools and universities"."Educational institutions, including mainstream schools and universities, are absolutely essential for our society. The closure of these establishments would lead to a gradual decline in knowledge within Afghanistan," she warns.Tawqa, 13, is a quiet, reserved student who also studies at the Shaikh Abdul Qadr Jilani madrassa. From a devout family, she attends classes with her older sister.

"Religious subjects are my favourite," she says. "I like learning about what kind of hijab a woman should wear, how she should treat her family, how to treat her brother and husband well and never be rude to them.""I want to become a religious missionary and share my faith with people around the world."

The UN special rapporteur on human rights in Afghanistan, Richard Bennett, has raised serious concerns about the Taliban's restrictive "madrassa-style" education system.

He has emphasised the need to restore educational opportunities for girls beyond sixth grade and for women in higher education."It has really affected my business turnover," Ms Unwin said. "My shop is blocked off at one side - but when the work is done, I expect this will be a busy little area."

The new covering will provide outdoor market traders with protection from the elements.The council hopes it will become a hub for cultural events in the town.

Michael Barlow, who runs the Bow Street Cafe on the market square, said 18 months of growth in his business had "flatlined" since the building work began."We're not getting new customers through the door," he said.