Taliban Imposes Ban on Women Visiting Male Doctors in Afghanistan’s Balkh Province
According to the Taliban government’s latest directive, women in Afghanistan’s Balkh province will no longer be allowed to visit male doctors for medical treatment. The Directorate of Public Affairs and Hearing of Taliban Complaints has issued a new edict, stating that women are not permitted to visit male doctors and that there will be no education for women, including training for female doctors. Additionally, the ruling also prohibits male doctors from treating female patients and requires hospitals to enforce this rule.
This new measure by the Taliban government is causing concern among women’s rights advocates and healthcare professionals in Afghanistan. Not only does it restrict women’s access to medical treatment, but it also limits their ability to receive education and pursue careers in the medical field. Many female patients may be forced to forgo important medical care due to the absence of female doctors.
The Taliban’s rationale for this new directive remains unclear, but it is believed to be a way to enforce their strict interpretation of gender segregation and modesty. Women’s rights advocates argue that this measure not only violates the rights of women, but it also puts their health and well-being at risk.
Many healthcare professionals and human rights organizations are calling on the international community to take action and speak out against this oppressive measure. They argue that it is crucial to support the rights of women and to ensure that they have access to the healthcare they need.
The Taliban’s decisions to restrict the education and job opportunities of women and girls has caused widespread anger around the world, yet these rulings have not been changed. Recently, the UN Security Council expressed their worry about the decline in women’s rights in the country and urged the Taliban to quickly open schools again and reverse these policies, as they are a violation of human rights and basic freedoms.
The G-7 nations have called on the Taliban to end its prohibition on female aid workers. However, in Kabul’s altered political landscape, women have been marginalized as a way for Afghanistan’s new conservative leaders to assert their power and control.
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