Amnesty International has expressed concern over the detention of several women in western Herat province for allegedly violating dress regulations imposed by the Taliban, describing the arrests as another sign of the continued erosion of women’s rights in Afghanistan.
In a statement published on X on Monday, June 8, the organization said the arrests underscore the ongoing repression of women and girls and called on Taliban authorities to immediately disclose the whereabouts of the detainees and ensure their safe return to their families.
The rights group stressed that every woman has the right to choose how she dresses, move freely, participate in public life, and live without fear of intimidation or arbitrary detention. Amnesty International also urged the international community to increase pressure on the Taliban to end what it described as the systematic suppression of women’s rights.
The statement follows reports that at least 30 women have been detained in Herat in recent days for allegedly failing to comply with the Taliban’s interpretation of Islamic dress requirements. Local sources said morality police intensified patrols in markets and public areas, detaining women and girls and transferring some of them to undisclosed locations.
The arrests have drawn growing international criticism. Richard Bennett, the UN Special Rapporteur for Afghanistan, said he was deeply concerned by reports of the detentions and described the arrests as arbitrary and unacceptable. Bennett called for an immediate halt to the detentions and demanded the unconditional release of all women held over alleged dress-code violations.
Bennett warned that such actions further restrict the rights and freedoms of Afghan women and contribute to a climate of fear. He said women should not face punishment for exercising basic freedoms, including decisions related to their appearance and participation in public life.
The concerns come as the latest report by United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan highlighted a worsening human rights situation in Afghanistan. The mission reported increasing enforcement of restrictions on women in provinces including Herat and Kandahar, where authorities have intensified implementation of dress regulations and other social controls.
UNAMA also told the United Nations Security Council on Monday that approximately 3.8 million Afghan girls remain out of school, including more than 2.6 million adolescent girls barred from secondary education. According to the mission, around 250,000 additional girls are excluded from secondary education each year, raising fears of a “lost generation” of Afghan women and girls.
The detentions are taking place amid broader restrictions imposed on women since 2021, including limitations on education, employment, travel, and participation in public life. Human rights organizations have repeatedly warned that these measures are having long-term social and economic consequences for Afghanistan.
