Karzai: Ban on girls’ education in Medical Institutes must be lifted immediately

Former Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai has expressed deep regret over the Taliban’s decision to ban girls from studying in medical institutes.

On Wednesday, December 4, Karzai wrote on the social media platform X that closing medical institutes to girls, particularly when women and mothers across the country face severe health challenges, is profoundly distressing.

Karzai emphasized that education is the only path to self-reliance and national development. He urged the Taliban to reverse their decision, calling for the immediate reopening of medical institutes, schools, and universities for girls. “I appeal to the interim government to revoke the ban on girls’ education in medical institutes and reopen educational institutions to them as soon as possible,” he stated.

International Backlash Against the Ban
The Taliban’s decision to prohibit girls from medical education has sparked widespread international condemnation. Human rights organizations have called for the immediate reversal of the ban. Students of midwifery and nursing programs in Kabul reported being denied entry to their institutes, with officials citing verbal orders from the Taliban leadership that “classes are currently suspended.”

Attempts to contact officials from the Ministry of Public Health and other Taliban spokespersons for clarification were met with silence. Students, who were preparing for their semester exams, expressed confusion and frustration. Many said they were ready for their exams and urged institute officials to find a solution, but institute authorities have refused to comment or take any action.

UN and Human Rights Organizations React
The Taliban have yet to provide an explanation for this abrupt decision, despite growing backlash. Volker Türk, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, described the ban as an “unprecedented injustice” with no parallel in today’s world. He labeled it a “discriminatory” act that further weakens women’s rights in Afghanistan and called for its immediate repeal.

Human Rights Watch highlighted the urgent need for 18,000 midwives in Afghanistan, stating that banning girls from medical studies will lead to “suffering, misery, illness, and premature deaths of women” in the country. Amnesty International condemned the decision as another “systematic and baseless assault” targeting women and girls in Afghanistan.

The Dire Impact on Health and Society
International organizations have emphasized that Afghanistan’s healthcare system desperately needs female doctors and medical professionals, particularly given the country’s high maternal and infant mortality rates, among the worst in Asia.

The lack of qualified female healthcare providers exacerbates the suffering of women and children, undermining public health and further isolating Afghan women from society.

The Taliban’s ban on girls’ education in medical institutes represents a severe setback for women’s rights and healthcare in Afghanistan. The decision not only strips women of opportunities for empowerment but also jeopardizes the nation’s fragile healthcare system, worsening an already dire humanitarian crisis.

Addressing this issue requires urgent international advocacy and tangible support. The global community must continue to pressure the Taliban to recognize the critical role of women in rebuilding Afghanistan. Without immediate action, the consequences will reverberate through generations, deepening the country’s social, economic, and health crises.

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