Afghan Cricket Stars Appeal to Taliban to Reconsider Ban on Women’s Medical Education
Top Afghan cricketers Rashid Khan and Mohammad Nabi have strongly criticized the Taliban’s decision to bar women from pursuing medical education and training. The players have called on the Taliban to reverse the move, describing it as “profoundly unjust” and detrimental to society.
“Education holds a vital place in Islamic teachings, emphasizing the pursuit of knowledge for both men and women,” Afghanistan’s T20 captain, Rashid Khan, wrote in a social media post on Wednesday. “The Quran underscores the importance of learning and affirms the equal spiritual worth of both genders,” he added.
Earlier this week, the Taliban announced a ban preventing older girls and women from receiving medical education and training, effectively halting their opportunities to become doctors, nurses, or midwives.
Speaking in support of Afghan women, Rashid expressed concern over the long-term impact of this decision, stating it would severely undermine women’s futures and the overall development of Afghan society.
The 26-year-old global cricket icon highlighted the urgent need for professionals in all sectors, especially in healthcare, in a country that is already grappling with limited resources. “The acute shortage of female doctors and nurses is particularly troubling as it directly affects women’s healthcare and dignity,” Rashid wrote in a heartfelt message, shared in both English and Dari.
“It is essential for our sisters and mothers to have access to care provided by medical professionals who truly understand their needs,” he emphasized. Rashid urged the Taliban to reconsider their stance, reminding them that providing education for all is not just a societal obligation but a moral duty rooted in Islamic values.
Former Afghan captain Mohammad Nabi echoed similar sentiments a few hours later on social media platform X (formerly Twitter). “The Taliban’s decision to ban girls from studying medicine is not only heartbreaking but also deeply unjust,” he wrote.
Nabi, a veteran cricketer representing Afghanistan since 2009, highlighted Islam’s emphasis on education and called on the Taliban to reflect on the principles of the faith. “Denying girls the chance to learn and contribute to society betrays their dreams and jeopardizes the nation’s future,” he said.
He concluded with a powerful appeal: “Let our daughters study, grow, and build a better Afghanistan for everyone. This is their right, and it is our responsibility to protect it.”
Human Rights Watch has condemned the Taliban’s decision, stating it closes one of the last avenues for women to access education. The organization warned that the ban would lead to “unnecessary pain, suffering, illness, and death,” as the lack of female healthcare workers would deprive women of proper medical care.
According to the United Nations, at least 1.4 million Afghan girls of school age are being “deliberately deprived” of their right to education. The UN has warned that the Taliban’s policies endanger “the future of an entire generation.”
Afghanistan remains the only country in the world where girls and women are prohibited from attending secondary schools and universities.
The Taliban regime, unrecognized by any nation, has faced global condemnation for imposing restrictions on women, with the United Nations describing their actions as “gender apartheid.”
