Afghanistan: Women Without Burqas Banned from Accessing Hospitals
Above: Dr. Bibi Khadija Sadat at the provincial hospital's maternity unit in Ghazni, Afghanistan, on Aug. 27, 2025. Image copyright: Elise Blanchard/Getty Images
The Spin
Pro-government narrative
Reports of women being barred from medical centers are simply false. Taliban officials have clarified that no burqa mandate exists for healthcare facilities. The confusion stems from varying regional interpretations of hijab requirements that don't align with actual Sharia law.
Government-critical narrative
New burqa requirements in Herat are creating deadly healthcare barriers. Women and children needing life-saving care are being turned away based on clothing rather than medical need. These restrictions are directly translating into delayed and denied medical care for Afghanistan's most vulnerable populations.
Metaculus Prediction
© 2025 Improve the News Foundation. All rights reserved.Version 6.17.2
© 2025 Improve the News Foundation.
All rights reserved.
Version 6.17.2