Afghanistan’s cricket icons, Rashid Khan and Mohammad Nabi, have publicly voiced their opposition to the Taliban’s ban on women accessing medical education, calling it "deeply unjust" and urging the government to reverse the decision.
In a social media post on Wednesday, Rashid Khan, the national T20 captain, stressed the importance of education in Islam, highlighting the Quran's endorsement of learning for both men and women.
"Education holds a central place in Islamic teachings, emphasising the pursuit of knowledge for both men and women," Rashid wrote. He noted that the ban on women’s education would have far-reaching effects on Afghan women’s futures and society at large.
Earlier this week, the Taliban announced the closure of all pathways for women to pursue careers in medicine, forbidding them from attending medical schools and training to become doctors, nurses, or midwives.
Khan, who has become a global figure in cricket, stated that the decision would exacerbate the already critical shortage of female medical professionals in Afghanistan.
“The acute shortage of female doctors and nurses is particularly concerning, as it directly impacts the healthcare and dignity of women,” Rashid wrote in a detailed post, which he also shared in his native Dari language. "It is essential for our sisters and mothers to have access to care provided by medical professionals who truly understand their needs," he added.
He further urged the Taliban to reconsider their stance, stressing that providing education to all is not only a societal responsibility but also a moral duty rooted in Islamic values. He concluded by saying that the country "desperately needs professionals in every field, especially the medical sector."
Just hours after Rashid's post, former Afghanistan cricket captain Mohammad Nabi also voiced his support for women’s rights to education. "The Taliban’s decision to ban girls from studying medicine is not only heartbreaking but deeply unjust," Nabi wrote on social media platform X.
He reiterated the importance of education in Islam, calling the move a betrayal of both Afghan girls' dreams and the future of the nation.
"Denying girls the chance to learn and serve their people is a betrayal of both their dreams and our nation’s future. Let our daughters study, grow, and build a better Afghanistan for everyone. This is their right, and it is our duty to protect it," he stated.
The Taliban’s latest decision has drawn widespread criticism, including from international human rights organisations.
Human Rights Watch condemned the move, calling it a further step in the regime’s ongoing suppression of women’s rights. The ban on medical education, they warned, would result in "unnecessary pain, misery, sickness, and death for the women forced to go without healthcare, as there won’t be female healthcare workers to treat them."
The United Nations also condemned the Taliban’s actions, with reports stating that over 1.4 million Afghan girls are currently being denied access to education. The UN has warned that the Taliban’s policies have put the future of an entire generation of Afghan women at risk.
Afghanistan remains the only country in the world where girls and women are prohibited from attending secondary schools and universities. The UN has labelled the Taliban's treatment of women as "gender apartheid."
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