Women detained in Herat as Taliban intensifies dress code

Taliban authorities in Afghanistan’s Herat province have detained at least seven women in recent days for alleged violations of the regime’s strict dress code requirements, eyewitnesses told reporters Tuesday. The incidents mark a sharp escalation in enforcement tactics that previously relied on warnings and public admonishments.

Three women were stopped near Herat’s central bazaar on Monday afternoon by members of the Taliban’s morality police, according to shopkeepers who witnessed the detentions. The women were taken to a local checkpoint after officials deemed their clothing insufficiently modest. Four additional detentions occurred over the weekend in separate locations across the city.

Stricter Enforcement Across the City

Under Taliban rule, women nationwide must be completely covered when they leave home. Most wear a flowing abaya robe along with a Muslim headscarf and a face covering, typically a niqab that shows only the eyes. But enforcement has varied widely by region, with some areas taking a more relaxed approach.

That’s changing in Herat.

Local residents say Taliban patrols have increased significantly over the past two weeks, with additional checkpoints established at major intersections. Officers are scrutinizing women’s attire more closely, looking for violations such as visible wrists, improperly secured headscarves, or colored abayas instead of black ones. Some women reported being questioned about traveling without a male guardian, though that wasn’t cited as a reason for the recent detentions.

Families Left Without Information

Family members of the detained women say they’ve received little information about the charges or when their relatives might be released. One husband, who spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of reprisals, said his wife was held for six hours before being released with a stern warning. Two women remain in custody at a facility on the city’s eastern edge, according to relatives who visited the site.

A Taliban spokesman in Kabul didn’t respond to requests for comment. However, a local official in Herat confirmed that authorities are “working to ensure Islamic dress standards are properly maintained throughout the province.”

Growing Concerns Among Women

The detentions have sent fear through Herat’s female population. Several women said they’re now avoiding public spaces altogether, worried that even full compliance won’t protect them from arbitrary enforcement. Schools and universities already ban most women and girls, and these new measures further restrict their ability to move freely.

Human rights observers say the crackdown could signal a nationwide shift toward harsher enforcement. Yet it remains unclear whether this represents official Taliban policy or reflects decisions by local commanders. Either way, the impact on women’s daily lives is immediate and severe.