{ "title": "Afghanistan: MSF denounces the detention of its staff amid growing restrictions on women ", "modified_at": "2026-06-11 15:53:08", "published_at": "2026-06-11 15:53:00", "url": "https://prezly.msf.org.uk/afghanistan-msf-denounces-the-detention-of-its-staff-amid-growing-restrictions-on-women", "short_url": "http://prez.ly/J9Id", "culture": "en", "language": "EN", "subtitle": "On 6 June, a female medical staff was stopped by representatives of the Ministry for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice (PVPV) on her way to Herat Regional Hospital, where she worked in the MSF-supported pediatric department. Her husband was accompanying her. She was accused of not complying with the dress code imposed on women in the country. She was detained for two days and finally released on 8th of June after having to sign \u2013 along with her husband and other family members, a written commitment to wear a specific type of PVPV imposed outfit in the future. ", "slug": "afghanistan-msf-denounces-the-detention-of-its-staff-amid-growing-restrictions-on-women", "body": "

Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) is outraged by the arrest and detention of one of its employees as part of the enforcement of dress code requirements in the city. \u200b \u200b

This incident is not isolated. Women in Afghanistan already face very severe restrictions on movement and access to public life, which have direct consequences on the access to care and delivery of healthcare services across the country. \u200b

MSF is aware about reports that over the past week a large number of women have been arrested by the representatives of the PVPV in Herat. \u200b On 9 June, a demonstration against the restrictions imposed on women was violently dispersed by the police using firearms, sticks and whips, causing several injuries and new arrests. \u200b

Since 2021, women in Afghanistan have been increasingly erased from public life. Women are barred from accessing secondary and higher education, working in many public and humanitarian roles, have limited access to healthcare, and are excluded from public spaces.

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File photo from Herat Province, Western Afghanistan. Copyright: MSF
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Additional measures targeting women, such as mandatory burqas and the obligations to be accompanied by a mahram (male guardian) when outside of their home, further undermine access to essential medical services and hinder the ability of female healthcare workers to provide care. These restrictions disproportionately affect women and children, who often rely on female medical staff to receive care in a way that is safe and respectful of the local culture. \u200b

Female staff remain central to MSF’s work in Afghanistan. MSF currently runs seven projects across seven provinces, delivering maternity, paediatric, trauma and tuberculosis care. Women make up 45 per cent of the nurses working for MSF in the country; in maternity-focused projects they represent more than half of the workforce and are essential to providing care in women-only clinical spaces.

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File photo from Herat Province, Western Afghanistan. Copyright: MSF
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\n Hannah Hoexter\n Senior Press Officer - NEWS, MSF UK\n \n
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