UN Security Council criticizes Taliban ban on Afghan women's medical education

The U.N. Security Council said Friday it was deeply concerned about the recent decision by Afghanistan's Taliban rulers to ban women from medical education, which could leave millions of women and girls without health care in the future.

- AGENCIES

The council criticized "the increasing erosion" of human rights under the Taliban, especially for women and girls who have been denied access to education beyond the sixth grade, economic opportunities, participation in public life, freedom of movement and other basics.

Authorities previously had not confirmed reports that Taliban leader Hibatullah Akhundzada ordered educational institutions to stop providing medical courses for women. In Afghanistan, women and girls can only be treated by female doctors and health professionals.