Afghan Women Fight for Freedom: Herat Protest Turns Violent

In Herat, Afghanistan, women stood on the streets to protest the Taliban’s strict dress code that forces them to wear the hijab. They wanted to challenge the new rules and reclaim their right to choose how they dress.

Police from the Taliban’s morality force fired live shot into the crowd. Witnesses and a photographer say the bullets rang off the ground, and a by‑stander heard gunfire in videos posted online. Two people were killed, and many others were injured.

The Taliban police said they had used sticks, whips and firearms to disperse the crowd and that “the protests were disturbing to public order.” They added that the protesters tried to “create tension under the pretext of protesting hijab rules.”

International groups have criticized the violence. The United Nations special rapporteur on Afghanistan’s human rights said the force used was “excessive” and called for accountability. The situation has sparked protests across the country, but so far, it has been rare for women to publicly challenge the Taliban’s rules.

Images show women in normal clothing walking in markets that have become deserted after the protests. The Taliban’s new rule – that the hijab is mandatory – went into force in May 2022, and women have faced arrests for refusing to wear it.

The Herat Police Command accused protesters of “disturbing public order,” but medics report that two men and women died. Video footage on social media shows shots fired and a woman screaming “don’t beat them.”

The crackdown has intensified local fear, with many women refusing to leave their homes. There are conflicting reports from local officials on how many arrests occurred. In short, the protest in Herat marks a dangerous moment for women who try to make their voices heard in a country where the Taliban still hold tight control.”