Another blow to women’s rights came this month Afghanistanas the government of Taliban banned the sale and prescription of contraceptives in at least two major cities, arguing that their use is a “Western conspiracy” to harm the Muslim population.

The Taliban are carrying out extensive inspections in Kabul, ransacking house after house, threatening midwives who can help pregnant women with contraceptives, and ordering pharmacists to empty shelves of contraceptives or aids, according to the British Guardian newspaper. “We are experiencing an atmosphere of terrorism. “Since the beginning of the month, we have been banned from having any contraceptive pills or injections in the store, and we don’t know how we can sell the stock we have,” said a Kabul pharmacist.

The country’s health ministry has not made any official statements, and a government spokesman has declined to make any statements about the matter. It is estimated that one in fourteen women in the country dies from causes related to pregnancy or childbirth, making Afghanistan one of the worst countries in the world for women who give birth.

The 17-year-old, who married two years ago in Mazar-i-Sharif and has an 18-month-old daughter, said: “I secretly used birth control to avoid pregnancy. I want to raise my daughter well with the proper health and education infrastructure, but my dreams were dashed when the midwife informed me last week that she had no birth control pills or injections to offer me,” she said. “I gave up my education to get married and I don’t want my daughter’s fate to be the same as mine. I am looking for a different future for my daughter. The last hope of planning my life is over,” he added.

This is the latest attack on women’s rights by the Taliban, who since taking power in August 2021 have denied women higher education, barred them from universities, forced them to lose their jobs and restricted their ability to leave their homes. A contraceptive ban would be a major blow to a country with an already fragile health care system.