HERAT: One person was killed and several others wounded when Afghan security forces dispersed a women’s rights protest in the western city of Herat, witnesses said Tuesday. Dozens of demonstrators, including women and girls, were arrested.
The protest was held to condemn the detention of a woman accused of violating the country’s strict hijab rules. Witnesses told reporters that clashes broke out after security forces moved to break up the gathering, resulting in live fire and injuries on both sides.
Afghan security officials have not yet publicly commented on the operation.
The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) expressed deep concern over the incident, particularly reports of women being detained.
“UNAMA is alarmed by the use of force against peaceful protesters and the arrest of women and girls exercising their basic rights,” the mission said in a statement. It called on de facto authorities to respect the rights to peaceful assembly and due process under international law.
Since the Taliban returned to power in 2021, women’s rights have been severely curtailed, including mandatory hijab rules and bans on secondary education and most forms of employment. Protests have been rare and often met with force.
The latest violence in Herat is likely to fuel further international criticism of the Taliban’s treatment of women and girls.
