Women detained in Afghanistan's Herat in clothing crackdown

Residents of Herat have reported that Taliban morality police detained several women during a recent crackdown on dress code violations, prompting concern from the United Nations.

According to witnesses, officials from the Ministry for the Propagation of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice stopped women in public areas and allegedly detained those not wearing the traditional chador or burqa, despite some being otherwise fully covered. Residents described an atmosphere of fear following the operation.

The UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) expressed concern over reports of multiple arrests and detentions linked to alleged non-compliance with dress requirements.

The Taliban administration has steadily tightened restrictions on women since returning to power in 2021.

Taliban authorities defended the enforcement of the dress code, describing it as a religious obligation and legal requirement. However, they did not directly address reports of detentions in Herat.

Residents and local observers said the crackdown has significantly reduced the number of women appearing in public. Some transport workers also reported being instructed not to carry women who were not wearing a chador.

Women in the city described the restrictions as increasingly difficult, saying the measures have further limited their freedom of movement and daily lives.