The Taliban government in Afghanistan has sparked international concern once again by imposing a ban on women from taking an important medical examination required to practice medicine in the country.
According to a United Nations report published on Monday, the Taliban introduced a policy in May that restricted the Exit Supplementary Exam to only male medical students.
Since regaining control over Afghanistan in late August 2021, the Taliban has been systematically stripping away women’s rights in the country.
In July, the extremist group ordered the closure of all beauty parlors, further limiting women’s freedoms. Prior to that, the Taliban’s Ministry of Public Health had already prevented women from taking medical school exit exams in February.
In a series of oppressive measures, the de facto rulers also banned women from attending universities in December, restricting their access to education. Moreover, the Taliban government implemented a ban in April that forbids all women from working for non-governmental aid organizations, including the United Nations.
This move was heavily criticized by the UN Security Council for undermining human rights and humanitarian principles in the country.
The situation for women in Afghanistan has only worsened, with NGOs facing suspension or revocation of their licenses and female employees being arrested by Taliban forces.
Women are also required to have male family members accompany them when traveling, with severe consequences for those who fail to adhere to this rule.
The UN report highlights specific instances of women being detained and threatened for their work with NGOs, leading to resignations due to intimidation and fear of further harm.
The international community has expressed deep concern over the Taliban’s actions, as these measures represent a severe violation of human rights and a significant setback for gender equality in Afghanistan. The situation has prompted calls for urgent action to protect the rights and freedoms of women in the country.
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