UNAMA says Taliban authorities detained at least 52 women and one girl in Kabul and Herat over alleged dress-code violations between July and September 2026.

Kabul (Afghanistan): Taliban authorities in Afghanistan arrested or detained at least 52 women and one girl in Kabul and Herat between July and September for alleged violations of dress codes and restrictions on appearing in public without a male guardian, the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) said on Thursday.

The alleged violations included wearing makeup, colourful scarves or not wearing a chador, a cloak-like garment that covers the body, as well as leaving hair visible, according to the UN mission.

UNAMA expressed grave concern over the arrests, detentions and threats of arrest, warning that the actual number of cases could be considerably higher because of underreporting linked to safety concerns and social stigma.

The mission also raised concerns over reports of verbal abuse, physical assaults and threats against women, including female shopkeepers. Taliban authorities had not immediately responded to the statement.

In June, security forces reportedly opened fire on a rare protest in Herat against the arrests and detention of women over alleged dress-code violations. At least one person was killed and several others were injured, according to witnesses and UNAMA.

The Taliban returned to power in August 2021, as US-led international forces withdrew from Afghanistan. Since then, the authorities have imposed extensive restrictions on women and girls under their interpretation of Islamic law.

Women face strict requirements regarding clothing in public, including covering their heads and bodies and wearing face coverings. The authorities have also barred girls from education beyond the primary level and imposed restrictions on women’s movement and participation in public life.

The Ministry for the Propagation of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice is responsible for enforcing the authorities’ morality rules.

UNAMA’s latest findings highlight continuing concerns over the enforcement of restrictions on women’s appearance and freedom of movement in Afghanistan, as well as the risks faced by women who challenge or are accused of violating these rules.