On May 10, 2023, the Taliban’s media office issued a directive prohibiting the production and broadcast of programs addressing women’s health issues, labeling such discussions as “the promotion of immorality.” According to this directive, topics such as menstruation, virginity, pregnancy-related pain, contraception, ectopic pregnancy, abortion, and other reproductive health concerns are now banned from radio and television.

Nisar (a pseudonym), a female employee at a media organization, reported that following a verbal order from the Taliban, her program was forced to remove all content related to women’s health. She added that women are now prohibited from contacting media outlets or participating in discussions with male presenters.

The Taliban’s ban on media content related to women’s health reflects an alarming escalation in gender-based censorship and public health suppression. By framing basic health education as “immorality,” the Taliban are institutionalizing ignorance and fear around women’s bodies and stripping women of their agency, dignity, and ability to make informed decisions.

This policy risks worsening maternal mortality, untreated reproductive health conditions, and the spread of misinformation—particularly in rural areas where media may be one of the few available health education tools. Dr. Najm al-Sama Shafajo, the head of the Afghan Obstetrics and Gynecology Association, has told the media that according to the latest figures released by the Taliban Ministry of Public Health, 638 women die in every 100,000 live births, and 22 newborns lose their lives in every 1,000 live births.

The censorship of women's health is not only a violation of freedom of expression, but a denial of life-saving information, and could amount to state-sanctioned neglect of women’s health rights.