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Taliban continues to brutalize Afghan women, MSF staff member detained by regime

From Jerusalem Post · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • The Taliban has intensified its crackdown on women in Afghanistan, with authorities in Herat arresting at least 30 women for dress code violations.
  • A staff member of Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) was detained for two days after allegedly failing to comply with the strict dress code.
  • Protests against the Taliban's treatment of women were violently suppressed, resulting in deaths and injuries, though the Taliban denies widespread human rights abuses.

Taliban authorities in Afghanistan's western city of Herat arrested at least 30 women, accusing them of violating the regime's strict dress code. Among those detained was a staff member from Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), also known as Doctors Without Borders, who was held for two days in early June.

The staff member was released on June 8 after she, her husband, and her family signed a commitment to wear clothes specifically selected by the ministry.

— Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF)Explaining the conditions of release for their detained staff member.

She was stopped by representatives of the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice Ministry on her way to work. The MSF staff member was released after she, her husband, and her family signed a commitment to wear clothes selected by the ministry. The ministry enforces a strict interpretation of Islamic law, requiring women to cover their faces.

According to the independent experts, Taliban security forces allegedly opened fire on protesters - men, women and children - administering beatings to some.

— UN agency for women's rightsDescribing the violent suppression of protests in Herat.

Local anger over the Taliban's mistreatment of women fueled protests in Herat, which were met with violence. Witnesses reported that Taliban security forces allegedly opened fire on protesters, including men, women, and children, administering beatings and causing at least two deaths and over 20 injuries. Some wounded individuals avoided hospitals for fear of arrest.

When the shooting began, people started to escape, and I saw the Taliban shooting toward those attempting to flee. I witnessed some people getting injured. The Taliban even went to the streets and beat children to send them home. Everyone was terrified ... some of the wounded [said] they didn’t go to the hospital [for fear of arrest]. I saw the 11-year-old who had been killed. He was bleeding terribly.

— WitnessRecounting the violent suppression of protests and the injuries sustained.

Despite witness accounts and media reports, the Taliban has denied allegations of mass human rights violations, dismissing them as rumors. The Prevention of Vice Ministry stated that the hijab is a divine command that they are obligated to implement.

The hijab is a divine command, a law that we are obliged to implement.

— Prevention of Vice MinistryJustifying the enforcement of the dress code.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Jerusalem Post. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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