Afghan women pursue medical studies in Scotland after Taliban education ban
Four female medical students take in their new surroundings at the University of Glasgow, as they prepare to embark on a one-year access to Medicine programme called ‘Gateway to Medical Studies’, in Glasgow on September 13. — AFP
When the Taliban banned women from attending universities in Afghanistan, Zahra Hussaini believed her dream of becoming a doctor had ended. Now, she is continuing her medical studies in Scotland. "Coming to Scotland, it changed everything. It has given me hope for a better future," the 20-year-old said in Glasgow, where she resumed her studies after arriving in August.
Hussaini is one of 19 Afghan female medical students who relocated to Scotland, thanks to a three-year campaign led by the Linda Norgrove Foundation. The Scottish government ensured they would be treated like local students, granting free tuition at universities across Scotland, including Glasgow, St Andrews, Dundee, and Aberdeen.
The Taliban's ban on women's education, imposed in December 2022, confined many of these students to their homes. Since regaining power in Afghanistan in August 2021, the Taliban has enforced strict measures that have disproportionately affected women, prompting the UN to describe the situation as "gender apartheid."
Fariba Asifi, 25, another Afghan student at Glasgow University, expressed her gratitude. "I am the luckiest person that I am here and can continue my education and follow my dream. I'm so excited and happy," she said.
The Linda Norgrove Foundation, named after a Scottish aid worker who was killed in Afghanistan in 2010, facilitated the students' journey by organising travel, securing visas, and funding their transition to the UK, spending £60,000 in the process.
John Norgrove, the foundation’s co-founder, praised the students: "Finally, these 19 incredibly talented young women get their future back with the opportunity of a tremendous education and a career."
Despite the challenges, Asifi remains hopeful for the future. "One day we will have a bright Afghanistan… where all girls can get an education, work, and enjoy their lives."