▲ A woman in full-body covering walks past armed Taliban police on a street in Herat Province, western Afghanistan, on the 11th (local time).
The Taliban authorities in Afghanistan have arrested at least 30 women for allegedly violating dress codes, including hijab requirements, and at least two people were killed during the crackdown on subsequent protests, according to UN agencies.
According to the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) on the 13th (local time), Taliban police opened fire and beat protesters who were demonstrating against the mass arrests in Herat, western Afghanistan, on the 9th, leaving at least two dead and over 20 injured.
UNAMA reported that the protesters were demonstrating against the arrest of at least 30 people by the Taliban's morality police between the 6th and 7th for dress code violations. During the crackdown, one boy was shot and killed, and several others were injured after being beaten with clubs and other objects.
Two witnesses told AFP that they saw police forces firing guns, and one of them added that they also saw police using clubs and whips.
Regarding the arrests of the women, UN Women also issued a statement, saying, "These arrests have heightened fear and anxiety among women and girls across Afghanistan."
Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) also confirmed that one of its female paramedics was among those arrested.
MSF criticized the detention, stating, "There is no law that says you go to prison for not covering your face," and added, "This detention is completely unjust."
Although the detained women were released around the 8th after receiving verbal warnings, UNAMA pointed out that the impact of such arbitrary arrests and detentions on the women and their families is severe.
Regarding the suppression of the protests, Sayed Masood Hussaini, a spokesperson for the Herat police, told AFP, "People gathered under the pretext of protesting issues related to compliance with hijab regulations and tried to create tension."
The Taliban's Ministry for the Propagation of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice also issued a statement, claiming, "The rumors that women were arrested in Herat are all baseless," and emphasized, "Wearing a hijab is a divine command and a law that we must follow."
(Photo: AFP, Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.