2 Doctors Arrested in Kandahar for Treating Women Without Male Guardians

DID Press: Medical sources in Kandahar say Taliban morality police have arrested two doctors over the past four days for treating female patients without the presence of a male guardian, raising fresh concerns over women’s access to healthcare in Afghanistan.

According to healthcare workers and local sources, officials from the Taliban’s Ministry for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice detained the doctors from private clinics in the Hazrat Ji Baba area of Kandahar. The arrests reportedly came after the physicians continued examining female patients despite prior warnings from Taliban authorities.

Medical staff say morality police regularly inspect clinics and healthcare centers, ordering doctors not to treat women who are not accompanied by a “mahram,” or male guardian.

Healthcare workers added that inspectors also monitor staff appearance, including beard length and clothing, and in some cases have used threats, harsh behavior, and intimidation during inspections.

Several doctors warned that the restrictions come at a time when the number of female physicians in Kandahar remains critically low, forcing many women to seek treatment from male doctors. They caution that continued enforcement of such rules could seriously endanger women’s health.

Recent months have seen increased enforcement measures by Taliban morality authorities in Kandahar, including inspections related to men’s beards, closure of shops during prayer times, and restrictions involving music and public appearance.

United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan also confirmed in its latest quarterly report that Taliban authorities in Kandahar, Paktia, and Uruzgan instructed health centers not to treat women without male guardians. The report additionally documented arrests linked to clothing, beard trimming, and listening to music.