Nineteen female medical students who were banned from attending university in Afghanistan are to complete their studies in Scotland.

They were forced to give up medicine after the Three years ago, the Taliban took control of Afghanistan and women’s rights were restricted.

Lewis-based charity Linda Norgrove Foundation worked with the UK and Scottish governments to arrange visas and places at medical schools.

One of the students, Omulbanin Sultani, said: “We have endured a thousand days of suffering to get to this point. A thousand days of being confined to our homes, our voices silenced by nothing but tears and grief, our lives wasted.”

The Linda Norgrove Foundation drew attention to the student’s plight last year.

However, efforts to bring the women to Britain were said to have been delayed by bureaucracy and regulations.

The conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East have made the situation even more complicated by putting pressure on governments, the aid organization added.

She thanked the Scottish Government and the UK Government’s Scotland Office for finding ways to address some of the major challenges involved.

The foundation was established in memory of aid worker Linda Norgrove from Uig in Lewis, who was killed in Afghanistan in 2010.

So far, £60,000 has been raised to cover the costs of the 19 women travelling to the UK and staying in Scotland.

The students arrived in Edinburgh earlier this week.

The women said there were times when they feared for their lives.

Ms Sultani said: “But during those hard and unbearable days, the presence of the Linda Norgrove Foundation was the only ray of light in our dark world. They stood by us and never let us feel alone.”

As an alternative to the Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme, student visas were used to bring the women to the UK.

The Scottish government changed the student funding regulations so that women could be treated like local students.

John Norgrove of the foundation said: “We are all delighted that after so much frustration we have finally achieved this.

“These 19 incredibly talented young women are finally getting their future back with the chance for an excellent education and a career.

“The alternative for them in Afghanistan was not good.”

Kirsty McNeill, Secretary of State for Scotland, praised the charity’s determination.

She added: “I am delighted that through our collaboration we have been able to bring her to Scotland.”

Scottish Education Minister Jenny Gilruth said: “These inspirational women will now be treated as local students, meaning they will benefit from free tuition and support with living costs here in Scotland.”

Organisations supporting the project include Big House Multibank, Amazon UK and Cargilfield School in Edinburgh.

Over the past 14 years, the foundation has raised more than £3 million to fund projects for women and girls in Afghanistan.

The company also helped refugees settle in Scotland, including the Western Isles.

Linda Norgrove was kidnapped by the Taliban in 2010 and died during a rescue attempt by the US military.

Her parents John and Lorna founded the charity later that year.