Taliban Reject Reports of Women’s Detentions in Herat

DID Press: Taliban’s Ministry for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice has denied reports alleging the detention of women in Herat, describing the claims as politically motivated and intended to undermine religious regulations.

Speaking on the issue, Saif-ul-Islam Khyber, spokesperson for the ministry, rejected allegations that women had been detained for failing to comply with dress code requirements. He said reports of coercive or violent treatment of women were “baseless” and were being circulated for political purposes.

The response follows reports by the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan, as well as civil society groups and media outlets, which claimed that a number of women had been detained by Taliban authorities in recent days over alleged violations of hijab regulations. Those reports also suggested that enforcement measures had intensified.

The ministry, however, stated that hijab is a religious obligation and that women are encouraged to observe it, while firmly rejecting accusations of forced enforcement, detention, or mistreatment related to dress code compliance.

The differing accounts highlight an ongoing dispute between Taliban authorities and international organizations over the implementation of social policies and women’s rights in Afghanistan.