Taliban Bars Afghan Women From Medical Training, Drawing Global Outcry

The decision, reportedly ordered by the Taliban's supreme leader, eliminates one of the last educational opportunities for women and threatens Afghanistan’s healthcare system.

The Taliban has reportedly banned women from studying nursing, midwifery, and other medical fields in Afghanistan, effective December 3, 2024, according to health ministry sources and educational institute staff.
This directive, which has not been officially confirmed by the Taliban, follows years of escalating restrictions on women’s education since the group regained power in 2021.
International organizations, including the United Nations and the European Union, have condemned the move, citing its devastating impact on women's rights and the already fragile Afghan healthcare system.
Healthcare experts warn the ban will worsen Afghanistan’s dire shortage of female medical professionals, critical for addressing the country’s high maternal mortality rate and providing care to female patients.
Prominent Afghan figures, including cricketers Rashid Khan and Mohammad Nabi, have publicly criticized the decision, emphasizing its contradiction with Islamic teachings and its detrimental effects on Afghan society.