Taliban Authorities Shut Down Baran Health Sciences Institute in Bamyan

Taliban authorities in Bamyan have shut down the Baran Health Sciences Institute for the second time. The action took place during a raid on the facility, during which the founder, administrative officials, and several teachers were detained. Following the raid, some staff members were released, but the fate of others remains unclear.

The institute is located near Bamyan airport and was one of the few centers in the province that continued to offer health sciences training to girls. This closure comes after a similar shutdown and detention of staff that occurred in 2024.

In addition to the institute, authorities closed Radio Bamyan, which is the province's first private radio station. The radio station's office was sealed and its broadcasts were suspended earlier the same week.

These closures are part of a broader pattern of increasing pressure on educational and media institutions in Bamyan since the Taliban returned to power. The moves coincide with sweeping restrictions on girls’ education that have been imposed since 2021, including bans on secondary and university education for most Afghan girls and women.