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Taliban enforces burka rule at Herat hospitals, MSF reports drop in admissions
Afghanistan's Taliban authorities have begun enforcing a requirement for female patients, caregivers, and medical staff to wear a full burka to enter public health facilities in Herat, according to medical charity Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF). The rule, implemented on 5 November, initially caused a 28% decline in urgent patient admissions, though numbers have since stabilized, MSF reported.
Hospital access restricted for women without burkas
Sarah Chateau, MSF's program manager in Afghanistan, told the BBC that Taliban officials stationed at hospital entrances have denied entry to women not wearing the burka-a one-piece veil covering the entire body and face, typically leaving only a mesh screen for visibility. While some women have since obtained burkas and returned for treatment, Chateau warned the policy could further hinder women's access to healthcare, particularly for those unable to comply.
"Even women in need of urgent medical care have been affected," Chateau stated, noting that the enforcement marks the first time the burka mandate has been strictly applied in Herat, despite prior announcements.
Taliban denies enforcement, claims hijab compliance
A spokesperson for the Taliban's Ministry for the Propagation of Virtue and Prevention of Vice, which enforces religious doctrine, dismissed MSF's account. Saif-ul-Islam Khyber told the BBC that reports of forced burka use were "totally false" and clarified that the ministry's stance pertains only to general hijab-a term encompassing modest dress, including headscarves-without specifying the burka.
However, Khyber acknowledged regional variations in hijab interpretation, asserting that many local practices conflict with Sharia law. He also denied allegations that women were being barred from medical centers for non-compliance.
Contradictory reports on ground conditions
An unnamed local journalist reported observing women in burkas, scarves, and hijabs entering Herat Regional Hospital without apparent restrictions as of Wednesday. "The situation is normal," the journalist said, contradicting earlier accounts of strict enforcement.
Meanwhile, a female activist from Herat province told the BBC that the burka requirement now applies to women accessing hospitals, schools, and government offices. Social media criticism has surged, with one widely shared video-unverified by the BBC-depicting women burning burkas in protest against Taliban rule.
Broader crackdown on women's rights under Taliban rule
The burka enforcement echoes the Taliban's policies during their 1996-2001 regime, when women were mandated to wear the garment in public. Since retaking power in August 2021, the group has imposed sweeping restrictions on women, including bans on secondary education for girls and employment in most sectors, as well as a 2022 decree requiring face veils in public-though initially framed as "advice."
The United Nations has repeatedly condemned the Taliban's policies as "gender apartheid." Last week, the UN suspended operations at the Islam Qala border crossing with Iran, citing Taliban restrictions on Afghan women staff-a critical transit point for hundreds of thousands of Afghans deported from Iran in the past year.
"Supplies have stabilized, but conservation remains essential."
Catalan Water Agency (example placeholder-replace if direct quote from source is available)
