UN Special Rapporteur Calls Taliban’s Detention of Women in Herat ‘Illegal’ and Demands Immediate Release
Richard Bennett, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Afghanistan, has described the detention of women in Herat for not adhering to the Taliban administration’s dress code as “illegal and unacceptable,” calling for an immediate halt to the practice. He emphasized that the detained women must be released unconditionally.
On Monday, June 8, Bennett wrote on his X (formerly Twitter) page that for the third consecutive day, dozens of women in Herat were arbitrarily detained. According to him, these women were arrested for what was described as “violations of the Taliban’s dress code,” an action that highlights serious concerns regarding the fundamental rights of women in Afghanistan.
Local sources previously reported that the Taliban’s morality police enforced bystanders to adhere to certain standards, appearing in various parts of Herat city, including Lilamiha Road and several busy markets and shops frequented by women. They detained a number of women and escorted them away. These actions have raised anxieties among families of the detainees regarding their fate.
In a recent directive, the Taliban administration warned that women who do not comply with the mandated dress code would be detained and transferred to prison. It has also been reported that some mullahs of Herat mosques have urged congregants during Friday prayer sermons to ensure women do not leave their homes without following this order.
The intensified surveillance on women’s attire continues amid broad restrictions over the past more than four years on women’s education, work, and social presence, leading to repeated international criticism. Nonetheless, the Taliban administration has yet to provide clear and practical responses to these concerns.
