Police crack down on western Afghan anti-hijab protests
Afghan security officials dispersed a women’s rights protest in the western province of Herat that began after Taliban morality police detained women accused of violating mandatory dress codes, residents said.
Eyewitnesses said one person was killed, several were injured and dozens of people, including women and girls, were arrested on Tuesday.
Taliban officials did not comment on any casualties or arrests.
Herat police spokesman Sayed Masoud Hosseini told the state-run Bakhtar News Agency that the meeting in the Gabriel area “created tension” and disrupted public order under the pretext of opposing the Islamic headscarf, which he described as a religious obligation.
Bakhtar quoted Sheikh Azizur Rahman Al-Muhajir, head of Herat’s Department for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice, as saying that reports that women were arrested for not complying with the hijab rules were not true.
He said the inspectors fulfilled their duties by providing guidance and raising awareness about the Islamic headscarf.
Since seizing power in Kabul in 2021, the Taliban has imposed sweeping restrictions on women and girls in the war-torn country, including limits on access to education, employment and sports, prompting widespread criticism internationally.
Long considered one of Afghanistan’s most socially and culturally vibrant cities, Herat has undergone significant changes.
Eyewitnesses said the protests broke out when morality officers tried to arrest women who opposed the mandatory dress code.
Some residents said authorities were targeting women who already adhered to required dress codes, which include full face and body covering.
Video, which has not been verified by Reuters, shows armed authorities breaking up the demonstration, which included fully veiled women among the protesters. In one clip, people ran for cover as gunshots rang out in the background.
On Monday, the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan said it was concerned by reports of women detained in western Afghanistan for allegedly failing to meet dress requirements. The mission called on Taliban officials to respect freedom of movement and equality before the law.
The Taliban says it respects women’s rights in accordance with its interpretation of Islamic law.
