Taliban Deny Reports Alleging They Banned Contraception for Women

KABUL (Sputnik) - The Taliban* are not banning the sale of contraceptives to women, Afghanistan's Health Ministry spokesman Sharafat Zaman Amar told Sputnik, denying recent reports in Western media.

"In some cases, contraceptives are part of the treatment and are prescribed by the doctor as necessary after examining the patient's condition. The decision to ban [contraceptives] has not been made, this is all hearsay and allegations," the spokesman said.

Earlier in the week, a British newspaper reported that the Taliban were prohibiting the sale of all birth control drugs and devices to women in Afghanistan, arguing that their use is part of a "Western conspiracy" aimed to control the number of Muslims.

According to the media, one in 14 Afghan women dies of pregnancy-related reasons, which makes Afghanistan one of the most dangerous countries in the world to give birth.

This claim, according to Sharafat Zaman Amar, is also untrue.

"According to our data, maternal and child mortality in the country has decreased compared to the previous years," he said.

The Taliban came to power in Afghanistan in August 2021, following a chaotic Western troop withdrawal from the country. Although the new authorities pledged not to discriminate against women, the Taliban has so far failed to deliver on the promise, recently banning women from working for international and national non-governmental organizations. Late last year, the Afghan Education Ministry within the Taliban government also ordered the suspension of girls' education in private and state higher education institutions.

*The Taliban is under UN sanctions over terrorist activities.