On June 6 and 7, officials from the Taliban’s Ministry for the Propagation of Virtue and Prevention of Vice, commonly known as the morality police, detained dozens of women in western Afghanistan’s Herat Province for alleged dress code violations. Witnesses and residents reported that many of the women arrested were already fully covered and complied with the Taliban’s dress code requirements. Detained women, including a pregnant woman, were taken to prisons and other undisclosed locations.
The crackdown followed a meeting between the Taliban governor of Herat and officials from the morality police. According to a notice issued by the department in Herat, “any woman who does not cover herself properly, shows her face, or uses makeup could be arrested and imprisoned.”
The arrests sparked protests as women and other residents took to the streets to demonstrate against both the detentions and the Taliban’s increasingly restrictive policies toward women. According to reports from the scene, Taliban officials responded with force, opening fire on protesters and beating demonstrators. At least two people, including an 11-year-old boy, were killed, and more than twenty others were injured.
Following the crackdown, according to reports, the number of women leaving their homes has declined significantly. A 20-year-old taxi driver said, “Women are not even seen in the city at all.” A 33-year-old woman described the situation as “unbearable,” adding, “I am genuinely saddened that we don’t even have the right to breathe freely. Life has become very difficult for us.”
Afghan women leaders, human rights defenders, and United Nations experts have expressed deep concern over the arrests and the reported use of excessive force against protesters. The experts stated that detaining women for their clothing may constitute arbitrary and unlawful detention and could violate fundamental rights, including freedom of expression and protection from gender discrimination.
The experts also emphasized that any use of force by law enforcement must comply with “the principles of legality, necessity, proportionality,” and accountability under international law. They called on the Taliban to immediately release those detained, conduct an independent investigation into the violence, and ensure accountability for those responsible.
The arrests in Herat are yet another reminder that Afghan women and girls are living under a system of institutionalized discrimination designed to control every aspect of their lives. Detaining women for their clothing, restricting their movement, and violently suppressing peaceful protest are hallmarks of gender apartheid. Governments, international institutions, and civil society organizations must increase pressure on the Taliban, support efforts to codify gender apartheid as a crime under international law, and ensure that Afghan women’s voices remain at the center of all discussions about Afghanistan’s future.
The Feminist Majority Foundation urges governments, the United Nations, and human rights organizations to speak out forcefully and stand with the women and girls of Afghanistan. Their rights, dignity, and freedom deserve sustained international attention and action.