Afghanistan: Women Risk All for Abortions Amidst Taliban Rule

In Afghanistan, women are undertaking life-threatening measures to obtain abortions following the Taliban's return to power in 2021. The procedure is illegal, with severe penalties, pushing many to seek clandestine methods. Some women resort to dangerous herbal teas or toxic tablets purchased from markets, risking fatal hemorrhaging or organ damage.

Healthcare professionals are witnessing an increase in suspected clandestine abortions, often presenting as miscarriages. This trend, coupled with diminishing access to essential contraception, has intensified the reproductive health crisis. The UN reports that less than half of Afghan women can access modern birth control methods, exacerbating the situation in a country with already high mortality rates.

Women like Bahara, Nesa, and Mariam shared harrowing accounts of their desperate attempts to terminate pregnancies, often driven by economic hardship or societal pressures against having daughters. Their stories highlight the profound risks and immense psychological toll of seeking abortions in a society that offers few safe options, with medical practitioners often paralyzed by fear of reprisal.