Taliban Arrest Two Doctors in Kandahar Over Mahram Restrictions

Two doctors in Kandahar have been arrested by the Taliban for treating female patients who were not accompanied by a legal mahram.

A quarterly report published by the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) on May 12 details the activities of virtue and vice inspectors in the region. According to the report, these inspectors are conducting daily visits to medical centers in Kandahar to ensure the enforcement of mahram requirements. In addition to monitoring patient access, the inspectors are supervising the appearance of medical staff, specifically focusing on the length of their beards and their clothing.

The UNAMA report indicates that these restrictions are part of a broader trend in southern provinces. Health centers in Uruzgan and Paktia have also been ordered to refrain from treating women who are not accompanied by a mahram.

Furthermore, the report documents the arrest and mistreatment of citizens for various violations of social codes. These include non-compliance with dress codes, improper beard styles, and the act of listening to music. The report suggests that these enforcement measures are being systematically applied by virtue and vice inspectors to regulate the behavior and appearance of the population in these provinces.