Exclusive | Afghan women fear for life as Taliban ban male doctors from treating them

In a nondescript Kabul locality, Dr Sona (last name withheld) is fighting depression. She is among millions of Afghan women who can no longer work in Taliban-ruled Afghanistan. In December last year, Dr Sona had secured a job at a Kabul clinic. 

"You cannot join because of the new rules," Dr Sona was told recently when she called the clinic for final confirmation of her employment status. This was right before the Taliban government's new ruling that directed hospitals to ensure that male doctors are no longer allowed to treat female patients. 

ALSO READ | Afghan women speak to WION as Taliban dismantle their right to education, campus after campus

"I desperately needed that job," Dr Sona told WION in a phone conversation. 

Asked by WION what she expects from the rest of the world for the fate of women's rights in Taliban-ruled Afghanistan, Dr Sona's voice turned heavy as she struggled to fight back her tears. The sea of emotions waved their way into the conversation. "I want to tell the world that please support us. We want to be out of this misery," Dr Sona said. 

ALSO WATCH | US, UK and UN criticise the Taliban's ban on Afghan women from universities

Taliban's rulings targeting education and employment rights of women and young girls have resulted in widespread international outcry but no impact in reversing the extremist rulings. The UN Security Council expressed last week that it is "deeply alarmed" at erosion of women's rights in the country. It urged the Taliban "to reopen schools and swiftly reverse these policies and practices, which represents an increasing erosion for the respect of human rights and fundamental freedoms."

The Group of Seven (G-7) countries, too, have called upon the Taliban to 'urgently reverse' ban on women aid workers.

But in Kabul's rearranged power corridors, women have been pushed to the margin, almost as a means of assertion of administrative authority of Afghanistan's new hardline rulers.

"God willing, I pray that things become as they were before them (Taliban). But I don't know if I should hope that much or not," Dr Sona said. 

'I dream of going to University every night'

For Saba (name changed), 21, becoming a doctor was a dream that she lived each day when she went to a Kabul university to study medicine. "Ever since the university has closed, every night I dream of going to university," Saba told WION in a phone conversation from Kabul. 

Born in Kandahar, the birthplace of the Taliban movement, Saba moved to Kabul with her family 12 years ago. "I had so many dreams, I wanted to appear for USMLE (United States Medical Licensing Examination). My family did not have the financial means to make me study abroad. But I knew that if I worked hard, I would be able to live my dreams," Saba said.  

Last month, the Taliban operatives literally shut the door of the University on Saba's face. 

Saba said that she made it a point to enter the university premises early in the morning. "I was the first one to enter the gates. I started studying whatever I could for the exam that was scheduled," she said. 

A couple of hours later, amid huge commotion by Saba's fellow university mates also attempting to enter the university, she was the only student inside. 

"They (Taliban operatives) were shocked when they realised I was inside. They didn't know I had come early on," Saba said. 

"Get out. From today on, the university is closed for you forever," Saba was told by Taliban operatives as she was pushed out of the university gates.

"The Taliban surrounded our University to ensure that not one girl could enter. It was as if we were the terrorists and they were present there to apprehend us. The Talibs were all over the police jeeps," Saba said. 

In the visuals seen by WION, men mounted on a police jeep surround the bus of the university in which Saba studied. The men could be seen holding barricades and weapons, exactly the way Saba explained. 

"They took away everything from us. Our freedom, our happiness. It was just the education that we were left with. They took that away as well," Saba said. 

In a critically-acclaimed biographical account of late Afghan politician and military commander Ahmad Shah Massoud, Scottish journalist Sandy Gall – in a chapter titled ‘Marriage and War’ – quotes a close aide of Massoud as saying: "When you respect people's dignity, they join your side."

Afghanistan’s female medical professionals and students expect that erosion of their dignity under Taliban will result in the downfall of the country's current rulers. 

“If women are sick now, they can no longer visit the male doctors. Like that the women will die for the lack of medical supervision,” Saba said. 

“Women can no longer be the sick ones; the patients in Afghanistan. Let alone doctors.”

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