Sources have disclosed to Afghanistan International that the Taliban violently assaulted an elderly woman and her pregnant daughter-in-law at a midwifery clinic in Kandahar for not having a male guardian.

The incident, which occurred about a week ago, involved the pregnant woman and her mother-in-law, who were seeking medical examinations when they were subjected to abuse by Taliban forces.

According to a source, who requested anonymity for safety reasons, the Taliban berate ill women for not having a male escort and force them to return home.

Since seizing power in Afghanistan in August 2021, the Taliban have severely curtailed women's fundamental rights, particularly in education, employment, and participation in social and political activities, and have instituted a ban on women travelling without a male guardian.