Protests in Herat over Arrests of Women; Taliban Forces Open Fire on Protesters

Following the arrest of several women in Herat by the Taliban over not wearing the chador and the tightening of restrictions on women’s dress, residents of Jabrail town staged a protest on Tuesday, 9 June.

Footage published from the scene shows Taliban forces firing repeatedly into the air and toward protesters in an effort to disperse the crowd.

Local sources in Herat say that several people were injured as a result of the firing by Taliban forces. According to these sources, a 13-year-old child is among the wounded. There is currently no confirmed figure on the total number of injured.

Sources also report that, in addition to gunfire, Taliban forces beat protesters with sticks and stones.

Videos from the protests indicate that women were also present among the demonstrators, with participants chanting slogans including “Work, Freedom, Education.”

The Taliban reportedly began arresting women in Herat on Saturday, citing “failure to comply with the required dress code.” Local sources say several women have been detained across the city for not wearing the chador and were taken to undisclosed locations.