KABUL: Afghan security officials dispersed a women's rights protest in Herat on Tuesday after residents reported that Taliban morality police detained women accused of violating mandatory dress rules. Witnesses said one person was killed, several others were wounded, and dozens of people, including women and girls, were arrested. Taliban authorities have not confirmed any casualties or arrests.
Protest Details
Sayed Masoud Hosseini, spokesperson for Herat police, told the state-run Bakhtar News Agency that the gathering in the Jebrail area had 'created tensions' and disturbed public order under the pretext of opposing the hijab, which he described as a religious obligation. Witnesses said the protests erupted when officials from the Ministry for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice attempted to arrest women opposing the mandatory dress requirements.
Some residents claimed that officials targeted women who were already observing the required dress code, which includes fully covering the face and body. Video footage from Herat showed armed officials breaking up the demonstration, including fully veiled women among the protesters. In one clip, people ran for cover as gunshots were heard in the background.
Broader Context
Since seizing power in Kabul in 2021, the Taliban has imposed sweeping restrictions on women and girls in the war-shattered country, including limits on access to education, employment, and sport, drawing widespread international criticism. Herat, long regarded as one of Afghanistan's most socially and culturally vibrant cities, has undergone significant changes under Taliban rule.
On Monday, the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan expressed concern over reports of women detained in western Afghanistan for allegedly failing to meet dress requirements. The international community continues to monitor the situation closely as human rights groups call for an end to such repressive measures.
