Taliban Prevents Women from Studying Medical Sciences; U.S.: It's Unjust

The U.S. Department of State emphasized on Wednesday, December 21, that the country strongly opposes the Taliban's decision to ban women's education in medical sciences. Secretary of State Antony Blinken urged the Taliban to revoke the ban on women's and girls' education in medical science centers and other orders that limit their human rights, access to education, essential services, and fundamental freedoms. Blinken stated: "This recent order, which continues the Taliban's efforts to suppress the rights and lives of Afghan women and girls, is an unjust attack on the right to education and access to healthcare services for women." According to media reports, on December 3, Bakht-ur-Rahman Sharafat, the deputy minister of public health of the Taliban, announced in a meeting with officials of medical education centers in Kabul that the enrollment and continuation of studies for girls in these centers is prohibited. The following day, all medical education centers were closed to girls, and Taliban forces prevented female students from entering these centers in Kabul and other regions. Prior to this ban, women and girls were studying in fields such as midwifery, pharmacy, dental prosthetics, laboratory sciences, radiology, physiotherapy, and nursing. The U.S. State Department warned in its statement that these restrictions, which now deprive women of studying in medical fields as well, put the health, security, and well-being of not only women and girls but the entire Afghan community at risk. Blinken also emphasized: "The United States is determined to support the rights of women and girls in Afghanistan and will stand with the people of Afghanistan, especially women and girls, for their full, equal, and meaningful participation in all aspects of society." The U.S. State Department called on the international community to "unite and clearly" condemn the Taliban's actions and support the people of Afghanistan, especially women and girls. Over the past three years, the Taliban have imposed severe and repressive restrictions on women, including banning education beyond primary school, prohibiting work in government and non-government organizations, restricting travel without a male guardian, and denying access to public spaces such as parks, baths, and sports clubs. The United Nations has described these actions as "gender apartheid."