Acid Sprayed on Afghan Schoolgirls

Two men on a motorbike threw acid in the faces of eight Afghan girls yesterday. Three of the girls have been hospitalised.

Although, as I understand it, no group has yet claimed responsibility for this appalling attack, it appears that its aim was to 'punish' them for going to school and therefore dissuade others. During the Taliban's rule (1996-2001), girls were barred from attending school (and from numerous other activities, for example going out without a male escort), so the Taliban or a similar group must surely head the list of suspects.

Would anyone like to claim that condemning this terrible, reactionary, sexist act of violence against women is somehow imperialist?