RASC News Agency: Richard Bennett, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in Afghanistan, has condemned the Taliban’s decision to prohibit women from studying in medical institutes, warning that this directive will have devastating repercussions for the entire Afghanistani population. Bennett also expressed profound shock at the Taliban’s actions. On Thursday, December 5, Bennett wrote on X (formerly Twitter) that the ban flagrantly violates the fundamental rights of women and girls in healthcare, education, and employment.
He described the Taliban’s decision as deeply troubling, calling it an egregious injustice against Afghanistani women. In his post, Bennett stated: “This unfathomable and indefensible decree, if enforced, will have catastrophic consequences for the entire population and must be reversed without delay.” The Taliban’s Ministry of Public Health issued the ban on women’s education in medical institutes. Despite the passage of several days since the announcement, the Taliban have provided no explanation for their decision. Earlier, the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) and the UN condemned this decree as profoundly alarming, labeling it a blatant violation of Afghanistani citizens’ rights and a cruel act of oppression against women.
With this latest move, the Taliban have completely stripped Afghanistani women and girls of their right to education. The decision has sparked widespread outrage and condemnation. This is not the first instance of the Taliban targeting women’s education. The group has already barred girls from attending schools beyond grade six and prohibited women from entering universities. They have also systematically excluded women from employment in government offices and international organizations. Following their takeover of Afghanistan, the Taliban even shut down women-only cafes, further curtailing women’s freedoms and autonomy.
