Photo Credit: Twitter Profile Photo of @MohammadNabi007, Instagram Photo of @rashid.khan19
Top Afghan cricketers have spoken out against the Taliban’s decision to ban women from pursuing education in healthcare. The men’s cricket team, widely celebrated in Afghanistan, recently brought joy to the nation with historic wins against England and Australia.
Team captain Rashid Khan criticized the Taliban’s move on social media, emphasizing the importance of healthcare education for women. “It is essential for our sisters and mothers to have access to care provided by medical professionals who truly understand their needs,” he wrote. “Providing education to all is not just a societal responsibility but a moral obligation deeply rooted in our faith and values.”
🤲🏻🤲🏻🇦🇫🇦🇫 pic.twitter.com/rYtNtNaw14
— Rashid Khan (@rashidkhan_19) December 4, 2024
All-rounder Mohammad Nabi echoed Khan’s concerns, stating, “This decision does not only harm the future of these girls, but it also harms the whole country and nation. Afghanistan also needs educated women besides educated men. Please reverse this decision and let our girls get an education.”
The women’s cricket team of Afghanistan fled the country after the Taliban took power in 2021. In a further setback for women, the Taliban recently barred them from enrolling in nursing and midwifery courses.
Health department officials met with educational institute directors in Kabul to communicate the decision, according to a ministry source cited by AFP. While an official letter has yet to be issued, health institutes have been instructed not to admit women or girls.
Previously, women had turned to health education programs—one of the few remaining opportunities for higher education after the Taliban banned them from studying beyond secondary school. Afghanistan has about 10 public and over 150 private health institutes offering two-year diplomas in fields such as midwifery, anesthesia, pharmacy, and dentistry, with approximately 35,000 women enrolled, according to health ministry sources.
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Name of Author: Cricexec Staff
