U.N. Protests 16 Herat Women Arrests Over Hijab Rules in Afghanistan
Updated
Updated · The Associated Press · Jun 8
U.N. Protests 16 Herat Women Arrests Over Hijab Rules in Afghanistan
3 articles · Updated · The Associated Press · Jun 8
Summary
At least 16 women — including a pregnant woman — were arrested or detained in Herat since Friday over alleged dress-code violations, according to a human rights monitor cited after the U.N. raised alarm.
Herat detentions reportedly began shortly after mosque announcements delivered on behalf of the vice and virtue ministry said women could not leave home without wearing the hijab.
The U.N. mission said the arrests raise serious human rights concerns and reminded Afghanistan's de facto authorities that women and men are entitled to equality before the law and freedom of movement.
Afghanistan's vice and virtue ministry dismissed the reports as rumors while insisting hijab is a divine command and a law it is obliged to enforce.
The dispute fits a broader Taliban crackdown since 2021 that has barred girls from education beyond primary school, sharply limited women's work and imposed strict public dress rules.
With women facing violence for protesting, how is their continued resistance shaping the future of dissent inside Afghanistan?
As Saudi Arabia curbs its own morality police, could it pressure its Taliban allies to reverse their war on women?
The UN calls it 'gender apartheid.' What will it take for the world to treat it with the same gravity as racial apartheid?
Herat Crackdown: Taliban’s Violent Suppression of Women’s Protests and the Systematic Erosion of Rights in Afghanistan, June 2026
Overview
On June 9, 2026, the Taliban launched a crackdown on women in Herat’s Jebrail area, arresting many for alleged hijab violations. This triggered violent protests, during which Taliban forces opened fire on demonstrators, resulting in at least one death and over twenty injuries. In response, the Taliban deployed more forces and detained several protesters. These events highlight the Taliban’s systematic policy of restricting women’s rights, leading to fear and withdrawal from public life, but also sparking acts of resistance. The situation has drawn international concern and underscores the ongoing struggle for women’s rights in Afghanistan.