On Wednesday, the United Nations confirmed the tragic death of at least one boy during a protest in Afghanistan, where the Taliban opened fire on demonstrators voicing their concerns about the mass arrests of women for not adequately covering their faces.
Reports started emerging from Afghan media about protests in Herat on Tuesday, which were sparked by the Taliban apprehending numerous women. The women, accused of failing to cover their faces properly, were taking a stand against what they believed was unjust treatment. Since regaining power in 2021, the Taliban has stated that while they don’t mandate full face coverings, they have been enforcing strict dress codes, including the use of hijabs.
The Taliban has increasingly restricted women’s rights in Afghanistan, essentially pushing women out of public life. They have imposed a ban on education for girls past the sixth grade and severely limited women’s employment opportunities, effectively silencing their presence in public spaces. This control has reached extreme levels, including new regulations that restrict how houses are built, such as prohibiting windows that could expose women.
Since the U.S.-backed government was overthrown in August 2021, many Afghans have regularly taken to the streets to protest against the Taliban’s oppressive regime. Recent reports indicate that hundreds of protesters gathered in Herat after 30 women were arrested for not fully adhering to the dress code. These women were detained briefly, threatened, and then released, despite claims that they were already compliant with the Taliban’s guidelines.
In solidarity with the detained women, local residents organized a protest. They used social media to spread the word about the time and place of the gathering. However, the Taliban preemptively struck, violently disrupting the demonstration and reportedly injuring many participants. Witnesses claimed the protesters were peaceful and posed no threat.
Some eyewitnesses described the scene as horrific. One protester recounted, “They were firing at us with Kalashnikovs—both girls and boys.” Others noted that the Taliban fired at individuals indiscriminately, injuring many, while some even attempted to ensure that the wounded did not receive medical attention.
Another report indicated that the Taliban fired directly at demonstrators, hitting them in vital areas like the legs and chest. An independent account corroborated these details, noting that one of the women arrested was a nurse who was merely complying with the requirement to be accompanied by a male guardian.
The UN’s mission in Afghanistan confirmed that at least one child perished in this incident. While some reports suggested additional fatalities, these claims are still unverified as the UN continues its investigation.
Following the incident gaining international attention, the Taliban intensified their crackdown on individuals sharing videos of the confrontations. They targeted those who expressed support for the victims online and pressured them to remove any incriminating content. Local authorities defended their actions by asserting that the peaceful protesters threatened societal stability.
A spokesperson for the Herat police stated that the situation was contained thanks to their immediate intervention, indirectly praising the violence against the protesters. Meanwhile, the Taliban’s Ministry for the Propagation of Virtue and Prevention of Vice attempted to downplay the arrests, labeling the reports as mere rumors and framing them as necessary for maintaining public morality.
Local media also reported that religious leaders are urging women to remain at home to avoid further confrontation. A local imam advised, “Please tell your family not to go out or only be accompanied by male relatives.” Residents lamented additional restrictions on women, including new mandates for prayer veils and increased checkpoints.
