- Taliban disperse women's protest in Herat over dress code.
- One dead and several injured as protest in Herat turns violent.
- UN expresses concern over detention of women in western Afghanistan.
Afghan security officials broke up a women's rights protest in western Herat province on Tuesday after residents said Taliban morality police detained women accused of violating mandatory dress rules.
Witnesses said one person was killed, several others were injured and dozens of people, including women and girls, were arrested. Taliban authorities have not confirmed any casualties or arrests.
Sayed Masoud Hosseini, spokesman for the Herat police, told the state agency Bakhtar News Agency that the meeting in the Jebrail area had “created tensions” and disturbed public order under the pretext of opposing the hijab, which he described as a religious obligation.
Witnesses said protests broke out when officials from the Ministry for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice attempted to arrest women who opposed mandatory dress requirements.
Some residents said officials targeted women who were already observing the required dress code, which includes completely covering their faces and bodies.
Video from Herat showed armed officials breaking up the demonstration, including fully veiled women among the protesters. In one clip, people ran for cover as gunshots could be heard in the background.
Since taking power in Kabul in 2021, the Taliban regime has imposed extensive restrictions on women and girls in the war-torn country, including limitations on access to education, employment and sport, drawing widespread international criticism.
Herat, long considered one of Afghanistan's most socially and culturally vibrant cities, has undergone significant changes.
On Monday, the U.N. Assistance Mission in Afghanistan said it was concerned about reports of women being detained in western Afghanistan for allegedly failing to meet clothing requirements.
The mission urged Taliban authorities to respect freedom of movement and equality before the law.
