Former President Hamid Karzai on Wednesday condemned the Taliban’s recent decision to bar women from attending medical institutions, calling the move “deeply regrettable” and urging its immediate reversal.
In a statement shared on X, Karzai emphasized the critical need for educated professionals to address Afghanistan’s challenges.
“Afghanistan will overcome its hardships and achieve self-sufficiency only when it nurtures skilled and educated human resources,” he wrote. “This can only happen if educational opportunities are available for all young people, both girls and boys.”
Concerns over health crisis
Karzai expressed deep concern about the impact of the ban on healthcare for Afghan women and mothers, saying, “Hearing news of the closure of medical institutions to women is profoundly disheartening, especially when women and mothers across the country face significant health challenges.”
He further stressed that education is the “sole path” to reducing dependency on foreign aid and fostering growth and development.
Karzai appealed directly to the Taliban: “I urge the caretaker Islamic government to immediately revoke the ban on women studying at medical institutions and reopen schools and universities to them.” He underscored that investing in young talent, both male and female, is essential for Afghanistan’s progress and prosperity.
On Dec. 2, the Taliban’s Ministry of Higher Education, following orders from their supreme leader, announced that all medical education institutions—both higher and semi-professional—that had previously allowed women would now be closed to them.
This decision effectively eliminates one of the last opportunities for women to pursue higher education after universities were closed to them in December 2022.
Afghanistan already faces a severe shortage of female doctors, nurses, and midwives. The ban has sparked widespread concerns about an exacerbated healthcare crisis, particularly for women who rely on female medical professionals.
The Taliban’s policy has been met with strong backlash from Afghan citizens, activists, and international human rights organizations, who warn that the decision further isolates Afghanistan’s women and undermines the country’s ability to address its pressing healthcare needs.
