Taliban security forces in Afghanistan's Herat province used live fire and force to disperse a rare protest against the arrest of women accused of violating strict Islamic dress codes. Witnesses and medics reported at least two deaths, including a woman and a child, though Taliban officials denied fatalities. The protest followed days of arrests of women and girls for allegedly failing to comply with the Taliban's interpretation of hijab requirements.
Protesters' Claims vs. Taliban Response
Witnesses and protesters told multiple news outlets that Taliban forces fired live ammunition, used sticks, and beat demonstrators. Videos circulating online show gunfire, screams, and protesters chanting "education, work, freedom." A photographer claimed to have seen security forces striking protesters and firing directly at the crowd. The BBC and CBS News reported that at least three people were hospitalized with gunshot wounds.
Taliban officials, however, denied any deaths and claimed protesters "disturbed public order." Sayed Masoud Hosseini, spokesperson for Herat Police Command, stated that the protest was an attempt to "create tension" over hijab enforcement, which he described as a "divine obligation."
International and Local Reactions
The United Nations' special rapporteur on Afghanistan, Richard Bennett, condemned the violence, calling it an "excessive use of force" against peaceful protesters. He urged the Taliban to respect freedom of expression and hold those responsible accountable. Local media and activists have framed the arrests and crackdown as part of broader restrictions on women's rights under Taliban rule.
Background on Dress Code Enforcement
The Taliban's Ministry for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice has reportedly arrested dozens of women in Herat for dress code violations. The arrests have sparked outrage among residents, with some comparing the situation to "gender apartheid." The Taliban has justified the crackdown as necessary to uphold Islamic values, while critics argue it further isolates women from public life.