What’s Happening

A humanitarian organisation, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), reports that starting November 5, 2025, women in the western Afghan city of Herat are required to wear a full-body burka, including covering the face, to enter public health facilities.

This mandate affects female patients, caretakers, and medical staff. MSF reports that women without the burka are being denied entry, causing a 28% drop in emergency and urgent admissions among women in Herat Regional Hospital’s pediatric ward.

Why It Matters

• Healthcare delays: Women may face postponed or denied treatment in emergencies.
• Maternal and child health risks: Fewer women accessing care could increase complications.
• Gender-based exclusion: Reinforces barriers in a context with already restricted women’s rights.
• Conditionality: Women must purchase and wear a specific garment to receive care, adding financial and practical burdens.

Official Responses

The Taliban Ministry of the Propagation of Virtue and Prevention of Vice denies a formal burka mandate for hospitals, claiming only a general hijab requirement. However, local reports confirm enforcement in Herat, with guards denying hospital entry to women without burkas.

This follows a broader pattern of restrictions on women under Taliban rule, including dress codes and movement limitations.

Wider Implications

1. Health system strain: Reduced access for women burdens families and healthcare referrals.
2. Humanitarian access: Aid organizations may face limitations in serving women and children.
3. Gender rights regression: Another step in limiting women’s freedoms and public participation.
4. International perceptions: Could affect foreign aid and human rights engagement with Afghanistan.

What to Watch

• Expansion of dress-code enforcement beyond Herat.
• Formalization of the policy versus local enforcement.
• Impact on maternal and child health indicators.
• International response from NGOs, UN, and foreign governments.
• Local community and women’s reactions to the restrictions.

What You Can Do

• Stay informed through reliable news sources and NGO reports.
• Raise awareness via social media, blogs, and articles.
• Support credible humanitarian organizations helping women and children in Afghanistan.
• Engage in advocacy through policy letters, webinars, and discussions on human rights.