Sources at Herat Hospital confirm that Taliban morality officers today (November 10) arrested a female doctor for not wearing a burqa. The doctor identified as Shabnam Fazli, is a general surgery specialist.
Qudus Khatibi, Fazli’s husband, wrote on his Facebook page that Taliban officers arrested his wife at the gate of Herat Regional Hospital. He added that she has not responded to her phone since the arrest.
Medical staff in the hospital’s surgery department also confirmed the detention. Several sources reported that other female doctors and nurses were taken into custody as well.
The Taliban’s Vice and Virtue Directorate in Herat has declared the burqa mandatory, stating that women without a burqa are not allowed to enter government offices, including hospitals.
Local sources say the directorate had reportedly announced the suspension of the restriction last night. However, on Monday morning, Taliban officers still detained several female medical workers.
