Taliban security forces used live fire to disperse protests in Herat after the government implemented new restrictions on women's dress and behavior [1, 2].
The escalation marks a tightening of control over women’s public presence in Afghanistan. By deploying morality police to enforce a stricter dress code, the Taliban are further limiting the autonomy of women in western cities.
The crackdown occurred in early June 2026 [3]. During this period, the morality police arrested at least 30 women in Herat for allegedly violating the new regulations [1]. These arrests sparked public demonstrations organized to support the detained women [2].
Security forces responded to the protests with violence. An eyewitness said, "At least one person was killed and several were wounded" [1]. However, other reports indicate a higher casualty count. Yaqoob Akbary, a reporter, said two people were killed in the protests [2].
International bodies have reacted to the surge in detentions. A UN spokesperson said, "We are gravely concerned by the arrests of at least 30 women in Herat over the past week for allegedly violating the new dress code" [1].
The morality police are now targeting specific behavioral rules to ensure compliance across the city. This effort includes a clampdown on the use of smartphones, and other tools that allow women to communicate or document their surroundings [3].
“At least 30 women were arrested in Herat over the past week for allegedly violating the new dress code.”
The use of lethal force to enforce dress codes suggests a shift toward more aggressive policing of gender-based restrictions. By targeting Herat, a city with a history of relative urban resilience, the Taliban are signaling that no region is exempt from the morality police's expanding mandate to eliminate women's visibility in public spaces.
