The Taliban recently announced a ban on women’s medical education in Afghanistan’s institutes. This decision, issued by the Taliban leader and enforced by the Ministry of Public Health, is part of their broader policy to exclude women from the educational sphere. Reports indicate that institutions defying this order face the risk of closure.
Domestic Reactions
This prohibition has sparked widespread anger and despair among the population. Many social media users have described this as a systematic erasure of women from public life. Mohammad Hanif Atmar, Afghanistan’s former foreign minister, called the decision a threat to society and a violation of Afghanistan’s international commitments. He emphasized that women’s medical education is essential for family and societal health.
Fawzia Koofi, a former member of parliament, has urged the International Criminal Court to investigate the Taliban’s actions. Women’s protest movements in Afghanistan have labeled this policy a “silent crime,” underscoring how it deprives women of their right to education and dreams. These movements have described the ban as “beyond horrifying,” highlighting how women are denied education and healthcare based solely on their gender.
International Reactions
The United Nations has labeled the decision a clear violation of human rights and called for a strong global response. The European Union condemned the ban as “cruel” and stressed the need to condition humanitarian aid on the respect for women’s rights.
Amnesty International called this policy part of a “systematic assault” on women and girls due to their gender. In a statement, the organization described the decision as “absurd” and one of the harshest measures imposed by the Taliban against women. Amnesty warned that such restrictions not only destroy women’s educational opportunities but also have devastating consequences for public health in a country with one of the highest maternal mortality rates. The organization demanded an immediate repeal of these policies and an end to gender-based oppression in Afghanistan. It also urged the Taliban to uphold their international human rights obligations and allow women and girls to access their rights without fear.
Human Rights Watch also warned that the decision would result in “suffering, misery, illnesses, and premature deaths for women.” The organization noted that, in addition to restricting education, the Taliban have prohibited male doctors from treating women in some provinces, exacerbating the healthcare crisis.
Robert Dickson, the UK chargé d’affaires for Afghanistan, called the ban a severe restriction on women’s right to education and access to healthcare. The Northern Ireland Women’s Rights Network described the Taliban’s move as a “death sentence” for Afghan women, stressing that without female specialists, healthcare services in Afghanistan will collapse.
Social and Economic Impacts
The ban on women’s education has serious social and economic consequences. Many women prefer to consult female doctors, and the absence of female specialists will create significant health crises. Additionally, sidelining half of the population from education and employment weakens Afghanistan’s economy and halts its development.
By imposing new restrictions on specialized education and medical institutes, the Taliban have erased the last avenue for women’s education. These measures are emblematic of the Taliban’s systematic policy to exclude women from education and professional fields.
