A woman in Afghanistan walks past a beauty salon in Kabul on July 6, 2023. — Reuters
– The Taliban disperse a women’s protest in Herat over dress code rules.
– One person is reported killed, with several injured as the protest in Herat turns violent.
– The UN expresses concerns over the detention of women in western Afghanistan.
Afghan officials broke up a women’s rights demonstration in Herat on Tuesday after reports that Taliban morality police had detained women accused of not adhering to mandatory dress codes. Witnesses stated that one individual was killed, multiple others were wounded, and dozens of women and girls were detained during the disturbance. Taliban authorities have yet to verify any casualties or arrests.
Herat police spokesperson Sayed Masoud Hosseini told the state-run Bakhtar News Agency that the gathering in Jebrail area had escalated tensions and disrupted public order under the guise of opposing hijab, which they frame as a religious duty.
Witnesses reported that the protests began when officials from the Ministry for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice tried to arrest women protesting the compulsory dress standards. Some accounts indicated officials targeted women who were already fully covered, including veiled faces and bodies.
Footage from Herat showed armed officials dispersing the crowd, which included women wearing full veils. One clip captured the sound of gunfire while people sprinted for safety.
Since the Taliban retook control of Kabul in 2021, their regime has enforced stringent restrictions on women and girls, including limitations on education access, employment, and sports, sparking widespread international criticism.
Herat, historically one of Afghanistan’s most lively cultural and social centers, has experienced significant shifts recently.
The UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan voiced concern on Monday over reports that women in western Afghanistan have been detained for allegedly not complying with dress laws. The UN urges Taliban authorities to uphold freedom of movement and ensure legal equality.