Tennis legend Martina Navratilova recently expressed outrage at reports of the Taliban targeting women’s use of technology in Afghanistan. Navratilova called the Taliban "evil f**ks" in response to the oppressive measures.
Afghanistan has faced an alarming decline in women’s rights since the Taliban resumed power in August 2021. Policies implemented by the regime have systematically erased opportunities for women and girls, including banning female education beyond the sixth grade, restricting access to workplaces, and even barring male doctors from treating female patients without a male guardian present.
The latest decree signals a new level of control, with warnings now reportedly issued to male relatives who allow women to use technology inside their homes. The issue came to light when Sara Wahedi, the CEO and founder of Ehtesab, Afghanistan’s pioneering civic tech platform, sounded the alarm.
On December 23, 2024, Wahedi shared the news on X (formerly Twitter), stating:
"As I predicted, the Taliban has begun rolling out warnings against male relatives who allow women to use technology inside the home. The decrees will strengthen with time. For orgs working on ed-tech in Afghanistan, VPN/security training must be top priority."
Navratilova, a staunch advocate for women's rights, did not hold back in her condemnation of the Taliban's actions. She posted her fiery response on social media, writing:
"The Taliban are evil f**ks. All of them."
Martina Navratilova slams Taliban’s decision to ban Afghan Women’s access to medical education
Martina Navratilova expressed her outrage over the Taliban’s latest restriction that prevents Afghan women from pursuing medical education. In a harsh critique of the regime, Navratilova labeled the Taliban as "evil," condemning their ongoing policies that have steadily stripped away women's rights since they regained control.
On December 2, 2024, reports surfaced of a new decree issued by Taliban leader Hibatullah Akhundzada. This order, communicated through the Ministry of Public Health, bars medical schools from admitting female students.
The 18-time Grand Slam singles champion reposted a video on X (formerly Twitter) on December 3, 2024, showing Taliban officials denying female students entry to their medical school.
"The Taliban are evil. All men. All Evil," she wrote.
In June 2024, Martina Navratilova criticized the International Cricket Council (ICC) for its male-dominated leadership, accusing them of discriminating against Afghanistan’s women’s cricket team by prioritizing male athletes and neglecting female players.