Afghanistan: Taliban open fire during hijab protest
DW • • world
Key Points:
- Taliban security forces in Herat, Afghanistan, dispersed a protest against women's dress code violations using sticks, whips, and firearms, with witnesses reporting shots fired into the air and multiple injuries.
- The protest involved up to 150 men supporting women arrested for not wearing full chador cloaks or burqas, highlighting opposition to Taliban-imposed strict dress codes and restrictions on women.
- Taliban officials denied allegations of arrests related to the protest, emphasizing the hijab as a mandatory religious law, while human rights groups confirmed detentions and criticized the use of lethal force.
- Human Rights Watch and UN investigator Richard Bennett condemned the crackdown, urging the Taliban to release detainees, provide medical care to the injured, respect freedom of expression, and hold those responsible for violence accountable.
- The protest is notable as civil dissent is rare under Taliban rule, which enforces strict Sharia law and bans protests, especially those challenging restrictions on women's rights and freedoms.