Armed police in Afghanistan opened fire on protesters in the western city of Herat on Tuesday during a demonstration against the arrest and detention of more than a dozen women accused of dress code violations, eyewitnesses said. At least three people were injured.
The protest drew more than 100 people, according to ABC News. A human rights monitor who spoke on condition of anonymity said monitors had verified at least 16 arrests and detentions in Herat since Friday, including a pregnant woman, over alleged non-compliance with Taliban dress requirements.
One witness, who asked to be identified only by his last name Kakar out of fear of reprisals, said he was driving past the protest when he saw police cars arrive and officers fire shots into the air. "After several shots, we got scared and got out of the car, to not be injured," Kakar said. Shortly afterward, police clashed with protesters directly. "And the police opened fire again, and some people were injured. I saw blood on the road," he said. Kakar said he could not confirm exactly how many people had been hurt. A second eyewitness, who spoke on condition of anonymity for security reasons, said he saw three people injured.
Protests are rare in Afghanistan. The Taliban has governed the country since 2021 following the withdrawal of U.S.-led forces and has imposed rules based on a strict interpretation of Islamic law. Those rules include bans on girls attending school beyond primary level and strict regulations on what women can wear in public. Dissent is illegal, and protests against government decisions are prohibited.
Government regulations require women to wear full hijab in public, which includes a headscarf, a long robe covering the entire body, and a face covering that leaves only the eyes visible. Compliance is enforced by the Ministry for the Propagation of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice.
Richard Bennett, the United Nations investigator on human rights in Afghanistan, said he was "alarmed by excessive use of force against seemingly peaceful protesters in Herat today." In a post on X, Bennett said those responsible should be held accountable. "It's time to defuse the tension, respect citizens' freedom of expression, especially women and girls, and avoid further harm," he said.
The U.N.'s Assistance Mission in Afghanistan had flagged concerns over the arrests on Sunday, saying the detentions in Herat raised "serious human rights concerns." It had previously raised similar concerns over comparable arrests in Kabul last year.