The United Kingdom has stated that the Taliban’s recent decision to ban medical education for Afghan women and girls is deeply concerning and called for a global consensus against the Taliban’s restrictive decisions.
The country described the Taliban’s new decision as a “horrific violation of basic human rights”.
In a statement on Friday, the British government said that Afghanistan is “the only country that imposes such restrictive policies on girls’ education”.
“The recent decision is a tragic setback,” the statement said.
Last week, the Taliban leader issued a decree closing all higher and semi-higher medical education institutions to girls. Mullah Hibatullah’s decision has been met with widespread international reactions.
The British government called the Taliban’s policies against women “oppressive” and warned of the long-term, threatening and serious consequences of this decision on the health and lives of people, especially women and girls.
The UK called on the Taliban to lift the ban and urged the international community to remain “united in their “resolute opposition to the Taliban’s continued restrictions”.
The British government stressed that it is “committed to its lobbying efforts in this regard” and called on other countries to make this issue a priority.
“We will continue to engage with the women and girls of Afghanistan, as well as the diaspora in the UK, on this issue,” the statement said.
Earlier, a British MP also condemned the Taliban leader’s decision, describing it as “immoral” and “short-sighted”.
SOURCE: Afghanistan International
