A group of United Nations experts has strongly criticized a recent crackdown on women in the western Afghan city of Herat, where morality police have detained dozens for not following strict dress rules, according to AFP.
According to UN-appointed human rights experts, the arrests began on Saturday, targeting women who were not wearing full-body coverings such as the chador or burqa. While many Afghan women already wear long robes, headscarves, and face coverings, authorities have tightened enforcement, demanding nearly complete concealment in public.
Tensions escalated on Tuesday when residents protested the restrictions. Witnesses said security forces opened fire to disperse the crowd. The UN reported that at least two people were killed and more than 20 others injured, although police denied using weapons.
The UN experts warned that detaining women over dress code violations may amount to unlawful and arbitrary detention. They stressed that such actions could violate basic human rights, including freedom of expression, movement, and protection from gender discrimination.
Among those detained was a medical worker from Doctors Without Borders (MSF), who was stopped while on her way to work at a children’s hospital. She was held for two days and released only after signing a pledge, along with her family, to follow the official dress code.
MSF condemned the incident, calling it part of a wider pattern of restrictions that already limit women’s ability to move freely and take part in public life.
Local authorities have not directly responded to the detentions, but officials in Herat confirmed that new rules are now in place. These include bans on makeup, visible hair, and even uncovered feet, with violations potentially leading to imprisonment.
