Afghanistan: Taliban bans women from receiving treatment from male dentists in Kandahar

In a new development tightening the restrictions imposed on women in Afghanistan, the Taliban issued a decision preventing women from receiving treatment at male dentists' clinics in Kandahar province in the south of the country.

Local sources reported yesterday, Thursday, September 25, 2025, that Taliban members removed women from these clinics after issuing orders to the clinics not to allow treatment of women by male doctors, significantly limiting specialized treatment for women.

This decision comes amid an ongoing campaign by the Taliban to restrict women's rights, following weeks after the movement banned nearly 600 books in Kabul, most of which were authored by women, in addition to prohibiting romantic poetry and poetry that the Taliban described as "bold".

Since seizing power in August 2021 following the U.S. withdrawal, the Taliban has imposed strict restrictions on women, including banning girls from education in universities, public high schools, and even religious schools, and prohibiting women from working in government institutions and relief organizations.

The movement has also closed public parks and gyms to women, and prevented women's sports teams from participating in international competitions.

Additionally, the Taliban cut off wireless and fiber optic internet services in some provinces, negatively impacting online education and family communication.

This new decision in Kandahar reflects the continuation of the Taliban's policy of marginalizing women and reducing their human and health rights, amid widespread international criticism of the repeated violations of freedoms and basic rights in Afghanistan.