Taliban open fire on protestors demonstrating against dress code for women

Taliban police opened fire to disperse a protest against the detention of women accused of violating strict Islamic dress codes within the city of Herat.

A number of people at the protests in the city in western Afghanistan were injured and medics informed the media that two people died.

Both men and women took to the streets days after local Taliban officials began arresting women they believed were ‘improperly wearing the hijab’.

Protests against the Taliban, particularly by women, have been rare in Afghanistan since the group returned to power in August 2021.

Early efforts by women to resist the strict restrictions imposed on everything from clothing to education gradually faded.

Witnesses have reported a bigger crackdown on wearing the hijab (WAKIL KOHSAR/AFP via Getty Images)

The hijab requirement is one of many rules introduced by the Taliban, who made it mandatory in May 2022.

However, the latest crackdown in Herat was reportedly only announced on Friday.

Eyewitnesses told BBC Afghan they had ‘seen with their own eyes women being arrested for not wearing the hijab’, since Saturday

Government regulations require women to wear a full hijab in public, including a headscarf, a long robe covering the entire body, and a face veil that leaves only the eyes visible.

The rules are enforced by the feared Ministry for the Propagation of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice.

Police in Herat, however, denied that any deaths had occurred at the protests, telling the BBC they had ‘taken action to ensure security and maintain public order’.

Witnesses claim the police opened fire however the police did not confirm this when asked by the BBC.

A witness who only spoke to the media on the condition that he would identified by one name said he was driving past the protest when he saw police vehicles arriving and officers firing shots into the air.

“After several shots, we got scared and got out of the car, to not be injured,” said Kakar, via NBC News.

In Afghanistan, wearing a hijab has been compulsory for women since May 2022 (WAKIL KOHSAR/AFP via Getty Images)

Shortly afterwards, police clashed with protesters “and the police opened fire again, and some people were injured. I saw blood on the road.” Kakar said he could not say with certainty how many people had been wounded.

Another eyewitness, who spoke on condition of anonymity for security reasons, said he saw three people injured.

Richard Bennett, the United Nations investigator on human rights in Afghanistan, said he was “alarmed by excessive use of force against seemingly peaceful protesters in Herat today.”

In a post on X, Bennett said those responsible for the violence should be held accountable.

“It’s time to defuse the tension, respect citizens’ freedom of expression, especially women and girls, and avoid further harm,” Bennett said.