EU Condemns Crackdown on Women in Herat Amid Taliban Security Measures
The European Union has condemned the crackdown on women in Herat, denouncing what it described as “excessive use of force in Herat” and “arbitrary arrests of women for violating dress code directives.” The EU spokesperson called on the Taliban administration to respect international human rights commitments, including the right to peaceful protest, following reports of women being detained and protesters being confronted in the province.
On Thursday, Anwar Al-Anouni wrote on the AX network that the EU stands with the women of Afghanistan and finds the recent events in Herat deeply concerning. He emphasized that upholding citizens’ fundamental rights is part of international obligations that must be fulfilled.
Meanwhile, local sources in Herat reported that the Taliban-appointed governor held a meeting with gatekeepers and tribal elders, urging them to cooperate in preventing any possible gatherings on Friday. According to these sources, the meeting took place yesterday at the governor’s office, where participants were asked to report any knowledge of planned assemblies to the relevant authorities.
Sources added that Taliban forces have established checkpoints in various parts of the city, including the Jebrail area, monitoring residents’ movements. In some cases, citizens’ mobile phones have been checked and controlled, raising concerns about violations of privacy and civil liberties.
At the same time, the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) expressed concern, reporting that during recent events in Herat, a teenager was killed by gunfire and several others were injured. The mission also stated that it has received reports of another death and is currently investigating the matter.
