"Because They Looked Pretty?"... 21, Including Girls and a Nurse, Detained in This Country

Taliban Morality Police Intensify Dress Code Crackdown
At Least 21 Women and Girls Detained
Human Rights Groups Express Concern Over Women’s Rights Violations

It has been reported that Taliban authorities in Afghanistan have repeatedly detained women and girls for allegedly violating dress code regulations.

According to recent reports by U.S. media outlet Amu TV, the Taliban's morality police detained at least 21 women and girls in Herat province in western Afghanistan on charges of violating dress codes.

Women and girls have been repeatedly detained for violating dress codes. Women who do not wear prayer veils, reveal their faces, wear tight clothing, or wear makeup in public places may be detained and transferred to women's detention facilities. Pexels.

These detentions were carried out according to new guidelines issued in Herat by the Taliban's Ministry for the Propagation of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice. The guidelines require male family members to ensure that women do not go out in public without wearing the proper hijab as defined by the Taliban.

According to a copy of the guidelines obtained by the media, women who do not wear a prayer veil, reveal their faces, wear tight clothing, or wear makeup in public may be detained and transferred to women's detention facilities. The responsibility to ensure women comply with the dress code is also imposed on male relatives.

Local sources reported that women and girls were detained in various locations, including the southern road of Herat, Almas Market, and the Qasr area. The sources said that Taliban authorities warned the detained women that, for a first offense, they could be held for one week, and if caught again, they could be imprisoned for up to one month at the central prison in Herat.

Female students attending a graduation ceremony in Afghanistan. Material to aid the understanding of the article. Photo by EPA Yonhap News.

Among those detained was a nurse working at a local hospital in Herat. According to sources, this nurse, who is affiliated with Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), was detained during a night shift even though she was with her husband.

In addition, on June 7, the Taliban's morality police reportedly detained several male doctors and nurses at Herat Regional Hospital for not complying with beard regulations.

Sources said that the Taliban authorities issued a written directive to all male hospital staff requiring them to grow beards and warned that those whose beards did not meet the specified length could be detained.

The Taliban have not released an official statement regarding these detentions.

This incident comes amid claims that crackdowns have intensified since the official enforcement of the Taliban's moral laws last year. Human rights groups have criticized these laws for expanding restrictions on women and increasing control over their dress, movement, and participation in public life.

Since regaining control in 2021, the Taliban have implemented extensive regulations, including banning secondary and high school education for women and girls, restricting their employment, and limiting access to public spaces. The United Nations and international human rights organizations have continued to urge the Taliban to reverse these measures and guarantee the rights of women and girls.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.