The UN Special Rapporteur on human rights in Afghanistan, Richard Bennett, has criticized the Taliban for detaining Afghan women who allegedly violated the dress code. Bennett called the arrests “illegal and unacceptable,” urging for the immediate release of the detained women. The Taliban’s morality police reportedly detained 21 women and girls in Herat for not complying with the dress code.
The detained women were held in various areas of Herat, including the southern road, Almas Market, and the Qasr area. Among those detained was a nurse from Herat Regional Hospital. The Taliban’s Directorate for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice in Herat had instructed male family members to ensure women adhere to the Taliban’s dress requirements.
The directive warned that women without a prayer veil, with uncovered faces, or wearing tight clothes or makeup could face detention. The Taliban’s increased enforcement of morality laws across Afghanistan has led to more restrictions on women, affecting their clothing, movement, and participation in public life. Since taking control in 2021, the Taliban has imposed various restrictions on Afghan women and girls, including limiting education and employment opportunities.
