Taliban bans women from training as midwives
IndependentNOV 2024
Afghanistan: Taliban Bans Women From Medical Training
Above: A woman looking for alms sits beside a child along a street on the outskirts of Fayzabad district in Badakhshan province, Afghanistan, on Nov. 12, 2024. Image copyright: Omer Abrar/Contributor/AFP via Getty Images
The Spin
Narrative A
The Afghan healthcare system faces imminent collapse as this ban will create a severe shortage of female medical professionals — leaving women without access to essential healthcare services since male doctors are prohibited from treating female patients without male guardians present. This decree is part of a vicious agenda to violate the rights of women and girls in Afghanistan systematically.
Narrative B
These policies reflect the Taliban administration's interpretation of Islamic law. They aim to protect women's dignity and ensure that proper Islamic education standards are met before women are permitted to resume their studies. The West should refrain from interfering with the country's efforts to address the issue of female education and empowerment as guided by its legitimate government within the framework of Sharia.