Protests in Herat: Deadly Crackdown on Dress Code Opposition

At least two people were killed and more than 20 wounded in Herat, Afghanistan, on June 10, 2025, when Taliban security forces dispersed a protest against the arrest of women for alleged violations of dress code regulations.

Timeline of Events

Arrests and Detentions

On Saturday, June 7, 2025, Taliban authorities in Herat arrested at least 30 women for not wearing a chador or burqa. All arrested women were released on June 8.

Among those detained was a female health worker employed by Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), who was held for two days before being released after signing a written commitment to wear mandated clothing.

The Ministry for the Propagation of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice (PVPV) initially denied the arrests, calling reports "rumors." A local branch subsequently announced new dress code regulations.

Protest and Casualties

On Tuesday, June 10, 2025, a protest attended by 100–150 people took place in Herat opposing the arrests. Security forces dispersed the gathering using firearms.

The resulting casualties included at least two dead (one reported as a boy) and more than 20 wounded.

According to reports, some individuals were injured by gunfire, while others were beaten with sticks.

Herat police command spokesperson Sayed Masoud Hosseini described the protesters as "rioters" disrupting public order and stated that security forces acted within Shariah law. Police denied using weapons but said they restored order.

Dress Code Enforcement Background

Since the Taliban took control of Afghanistan in 2021, authorities have enforced rules based on their interpretation of Shariah, including restrictions on women's dress, education, and public life. The dress code requires women to wear full hijab (headscarf, long robe, and face covering) in public.

Recent Intensification

Since November 2024, Taliban officials in Herat have increased enforcement of these dress codes. Initial enforcement focused on the burka, but after reported pushback from residents, officials later permitted women to wear a voluminous cloak (chaddar) and a face mask.

Key enforcement measures have included:

• Preventing women from accessing hospitals, religious seminaries, and public transport without required attire
• Removing women from public transport who did not meet dress code standards
• Female staff at Herat Regional Hospital reportedly sharing burkas to gain entry
• A 28% drop in urgent admissions at health clinics supported by Doctors Without Borders during the initial enforcement period, though numbers later recovered
• Establishing checkpoints to inspect women's attire in vehicles

Specific Incidents

• At Herat Regional Hospital, agents denied entry to female patients and staff not wearing a burka
• At religious seminaries, agents demanded teenage girls wear burkas; after a standoff, students were permitted entry wearing a black niqab and gloves
• Two health workers reported witnessing women detained in a shipping container in Herat for several hours in November 2024 for not wearing a chaddar
• Women were initially ordered to sit in the back of shared minibuses and subsequently banned from sharing minibuses with men entirely, leading to increased costs and scrutiny regarding a woman's attire and presence of a male guardian

Official Statements and Responses

UN Human Rights Council experts: Expressed concern that the arrests may constitute arbitrary detention and infringe on rights to freedom of expression and non-discrimination.

• UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA): Confirmed the arrest of 30 women; called for rescinding restrictive policies and compliance with international law. UNAMA also noted that the detention of women carries stigma and risk of isolation even after release.

• Herat police command (Sayed Masoud Hosseini): Characterized protesters as rioters and stated security forces acted within Shariah law.

• Ministry for the Propagation of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice (PVPV): Initially denied arrests; later a local branch announced new dress code regulations.

• Médecins Sans Frontières: Condemned the arrest of its employee as part of dress code enforcement.

Broader Context

The Ministry for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice oversees enforcement of these policies, which align with a May 2022 edict mandating either a burka or a black robe, headscarf, face veil, and gloves for women who have reached puberty. Further detailed rules were issued in August 2024.

Male guardians are made responsible for compliance, with threats of punishment for non-adherence.

Herat, located near the Iranian border, has historically been considered more liberal than other Afghan cities. Protests in Taliban-controlled Afghanistan are rare and effectively illegal.