Richard Bennett, the UN Special Rapporteur on the human rights situation in Afghanistan, voiced worry about the use of force against demonstrators in Herat. The concern arose following reports of Taliban forces firing on protesters in Herat who had gathered to oppose the arrest of Afghan women and girls accused of violating the Taliban’s dress code.
Bennett, expressing alarm at the excessive force used against apparently peaceful protesters in Herat, emphasized the need to de-escalate tensions, uphold citizens’ freedom of expression, particularly for women and girls, and prevent further harm. He called for accountability for those responsible for the violence.
In Herat, during a march through the Jibrail area, several protesters were injured as Taliban forces attempted to disperse the crowd. This protest occurred subsequent to the detention of at least 21 women and girls in Herat by the Taliban morality police for alleged dress code violations.
The arrest of Afghan women and girls followed a directive from the Taliban’s Directorate for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice in Herat, instructing male family members to ensure compliance with the Taliban’s interpretation of Islamic dress rules. Women found in public without a prayer veil, with uncovered faces, or wearing tight clothes or makeup could face detention according to the directive.
