Women detained in Afghanistan's Herat in clothing crackdown

Women nationwide must be fully covered when outside, often wearing an abaya, headscarf and face veil

Afghan residents in the western city of Herat have toldAFPof witnessing multiple women detained by the Taliban government's morality police. in a crackdown over clothing which has drawn criticism from the United Nations.

The UN mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) said Sunday it was "concerned over multiple arrests. detentions of women in Herat, Afghanistan, for alleged non-compliance with dress requirements".

Taliban authorities rule according to a strict interpretation of Islamic law,. have gradually tightened restrictions on women since returning to power in August 2021.

Women nationwide must be completely covered when they leave home, with many wearing a flowing abaya robe along with a headscarf. a face covering.

UNAMA is concerned over multiple arrests. detentions of women in Herat#Afghanistanfor alleged non-compliance with dress requirements, which raises serious human rights concerns.

In Herat, residents witnessed women being detained on Saturday for not wearing the body-cloaking chador or burqa. They spoke toAFPon condition of anonymity for security reasons.

"I saw two employees of the ministry, one of whom was carrying a whip, putting two women who were not wearing chadors into a vehicle," said a 23-year-old woman, referring to officials from the Ministry for the Propagation of Virtue. the Prevention of Vice (PVPV).

She said those detained were fully covered, including wearing Muslim headscarves.

"Everyone is frightened," she toldAFP.

Another woman said she saw PVPV officials stopping vehicles. checking passengers' clothing, and saw multiple women being detained and put into vans.

"The majority of those arrested were women who were not wearing chadors," the 27-year-old said.

The PVPV ministry did not comment on women being detained when contacted byAFP.

"There is nothing unusual in Herat," the ministry's information department said.

The dress code "is a divine command. an enforced law, and we are obligated to implement it", the ministry said.

Since the crackdown was launched, anAFPjournalist. multiple residents in Herat said the number of women leaving home had dropped sharply.

A 20-year-old taxi driver said, "They're not seen in the city at all".

"We've been told not to transport women without a chador," he said.

One woman described the situation as "unbearable".

"I am genuinely saddened that we don't even have the right to breathe freely," the 33-year-old said.

"Life has become very difficult for us."

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