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Taliban's moral police arrest Afghan women in Herat over dress code violations
🇵🇦 Panama /Crime & Justice

Taliban's moral police arrest Afghan women in Herat over dress code violations

From TVN Panamá · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Ongoing story
  • The Taliban's moral police in Herat, Afghanistan, have reportedly detained numerous women for allegedly violating dress code rules.
  • The UN mission in Afghanistan expressed concern over the multiple arrests of women in Herat.
  • Residents reported witnessing women being taken into custody for not wearing the chador or burqa, leading to a noticeable decrease in women seen in public.

The Taliban's morality police in the western Afghan city of Herat have reportedly arrested numerous women, escalating a crackdown on attire deemed inappropriate by the authorities. The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) voiced its concern on Sunday regarding the "multiple detentions and arrests of women in Herat, Afghanistan, for alleged non-compliance with dress code norms."

I saw two ministry employees, one of whom was carrying a whip, putting two women who were not wearing a chador into a vehicle.

— Herat residentDescribing an incident of women being detained by the morality police for dress code violations.

Since regaining power in August 2021, the Taliban have implemented a strict interpretation of Islamic law, progressively tightening restrictions on women. Nationwide, women are required to cover themselves completely when leaving home, typically wearing a loose, long dress known as an abaya, along with an Islamic veil and a face covering. However, in Herat, residents reported witnessing women being detained specifically for not wearing the chador or burqa, which cover the entire body.

The dress code is a divine mandate and a current law, and we are obliged to enforce it.

— Ministry SpokespersonResponding to reports of arrests and explaining the enforcement of Taliban dress code regulations.

Witnesses described seeing officials from the Ministry for the Propagation of Virtue and Prevention of Vice (PVPV) forcing women into vehicles. One 23-year-old woman recounted seeing two ministry employees, one carrying a whip, detain two women who were not wearing a chador, despite being fully covered otherwise. Another woman reported observing ministry officials stopping vehicles and checking passengers' attire, leading to the arrest of several women.

They are no longer seen at all in the city.

— Taxi driverCommenting on the reduced visibility of women in Herat following increased enforcement of dress codes.

The ministry, when contacted, stated that "there is nothing unusual in Herat." Officials asserted that the dress code is a "divine mandate and a current law, and we are obliged to enforce it." The increased enforcement has had a visible impact on public life in Herat. A taxi driver noted a drastic reduction in the number of women seen in the city, stating, "They are no longer seen at all in the city." Another resident expressed deep sadness, lamenting, "I am deeply saddened to see that we no longer even have the right to breathe freely."

I am deeply saddened to see that we no longer even have the right to breathe freely.

— Herat residentExpressing the impact of the restrictive environment on personal freedom.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by TVN Panamá in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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