women in Afghanistan banned from pursuing medical education

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Taliban authorities in Afghanistan are reported to have banned medical schools from admitting female students, removing the last remaining opportunity for women to pursue higher education.

The decree issued by the reclusive Taliban leader, Hibatullah Akhundzada, took effect Tuesday, a day after it was communicated at a meeting in Kabul of heads from all medical institutions, officials and participants told VOA. They spoke anonymously because they were told not to discuss the matter publicly.

Taliban officials have not yet commented on the alleged ban or the meeting that took place Monday in the Afghan capital.

Human rights advocates and foreign diplomats have condemned the directive they say will deprive millions of women of essential health care services, including midwives, female nurses, and health workers, in the male-dominated Afghan society where the Taliban have prohibited male doctors from treating women.

?I am deeply concerned about new reports that the Taliban will deny medical education to women in Afghanistan,? Robert Dickson, the charge d?affaires of Britain?s diplomatic mission to Kabul, wrote on the X social media platform, formerly known as Twitter.

?This is another affront to women?s right to education and will further restrict access to health care for Afghan women and children,? said the British diplomat.

Since regaining control of Afghanistan in 2021, the radical Taliban have banned female university education, and girls are not allowed to attend schools beyond the sixth grade. Afghan women also are prohibited from working in all sectors except for a few, including health care, immigration, and police.

The de facto Afghan government defends its policies, saying they are aligned with the Taliban?s interpretation of Islamic law, known as Sharia.

Social media videos posted Tuesday showed Afghan girls lamenting the ban on their enrollment in health institutes.