Taliban's Five-Year Reign: Expanding Restrictions on Afghan Women's Lives
Summary
Five years of Taliban rule have brought sweeping restrictions on Afghan women’s education, work, mobility and public life. The ban on girls’ schooling and women’s medical training has deepened a healthcare crisis, especially in rural areas where female doctors and midwives are scarce.
Key Points
- The Taliban’s restrictions on Afghan women have expanded over five years to cover education, employment, travel, public spaces and even participation in health training.
- The ban on women studying in medical institutes has worsened Afghanistan’s shortage of female midwives and doctors, creating serious risks for maternal healthcare.
- Women interviewed from across Afghanistan describe losing jobs, identity, freedom and future opportunities after the Taliban returned to power in 2021.
- The article says the Taliban have repeatedly shifted explanations for the school ban, but have offered no clear timeline for reopening girls’ and women’s education.
