SOCIETY — July 29, 2026
Taliban officers arrest at least five women in Herat for wearing manteaus
The detentions occurred at Zaitun Mall, Almas Sharq commercial complex, 64-meter road, and Pol-e Rangina area, with patrols continuing across several districts.
The Ehtebar Desk — originates with Afghanistan International — 2 min read
Officers from the Taliban Ministry of Virtue and Vice detained at least five women in Herat on Wednesday for wearing manteaus. The arrests took place at several locations including Zaitun Mall, Almas Sharq commercial complex, 64-meter road, and the Pol-e Rangina area.
Patrols by the officers continued in multiple districts of the city. The detentions come after earlier arrests of women in Herat that prompted protests in the Jibraeel area and in front of the governor's office.
Those earlier protests were violently suppressed, resulting in two teenagers killed and several others injured. International organizations including UN experts, the European Union, Amnesty International, and Human Rights Watch have condemned the arrests and called for the release of the women along with investigations into the incidents.
Read the original reporting at Afghanistan International →
Reliability assessment
Single source reporting based entirely on anonymous eyewitnesses and local sources with no independent corroboration or on-record named officials
The source language mixes facts with framing or advocacy wording. Afghanistan International: "brutal crackdown" is implied in the description of suppression by shooting; "widespread international reaction" and listing of condemnations from multiple organizations frame the events with advocacy tone; "suppressed this protest by firing shots" uses loaded language to emphasize violence.
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Afghanistan International
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Society — Herat, Taliban, Ministry of Virtue and Vice, Women's arrests, Hijab enforcement
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