Two reportedly killed as women protest Taliban dress code in Afghanistan

Taliban police allegedly opened fire on a rare protest in Herat, Afghanistan, as women demonstrated against the detention of individuals accused of violating strict Islamic dress codes. Witnesses and protesters reported that live ammunition was used to disperse the crowd, leading to casualties.

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Police in Herat denied there had been any deaths, but have acknowledged they responded to the protest, telling the BBC that officers had "taken action to ensure security and maintain public order".

Medics informed the BBC that two people died during the confrontation, with several others sustaining injuries. However, police officials in Herat denied that any deaths occurred, though they acknowledged responding to the protest to "ensure security and maintain public order." The exact methods used by the police remain unclear, as they did not directly confirm firing live rounds when questioned by the BBC.

Protesters described a chaotic scene, with security forces allegedly using "sticks, whips and firearms to disperse the crowd" and firing shots into the air. A photographer present at the scene reported witnessing security forces striking protesters and firing weapons in their direction, with a significant number of people injured. Videos circulating online appear to show gunfire and women screaming.

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The security forces "used sticks, whips and firearms to disperse the crowd. They even fired shots into the air".

Sayed Masoud Hosseini, spokesperson for the Herat Police Command, stated that the protesters "acted in a manner that disturbed public order" and were attempting to "create tension under the pretext of protesting issues related to the observance of hijab." Some protesters were heard chanting slogans like "education, work, freedom."

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Based on what I personally witnessed, a significant number of people were injured.

Richard Bennett, the United Nations' special rapporteur on human rights in Afghanistan, expressed alarm over the "excessive use of force against seemingly peaceful protesters" and called for accountability. Protests against the Taliban, especially by women, have been infrequent since the group regained power in August 2021. The mandatory hijab, enforced since May 2022, is one of many strict rules imposed by the Taliban that have significantly curtailed women's freedoms.

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The protesters "acted in a manner that disturbed public order".