Afghan medical students arrive in Scotland to complete their studies

Nearly two weeks after 19 female students travelled from Afghanistan to Scotland to complete their medical degrees, some have told The BMJ that they are grateful for the opportunity to escape the Taliban’s rule but are worried about their family, friends, and the future of their country.

The students will be studying at four medical schools in Scotland after a three year campaign by the Linda Norgrove Foundation to bring them to the UK. Linda Norgrove, a development worker, was kidnapped by the Taliban and killed in 2010 during a failed rescue attempt by the US special forces. The charity set up by her parents worked with the Scottish government to arrange visas for the students, who will be treated as home students and entitled to free tuition.

The students are among …