UN says at least 52 Afghan women, one girl arrested or detained over dress code

The UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) said it verified that at least 52 women and one girl were arrested or detained in Herat and Kabul between July and September, according to UN News. UNAMA said other women were threatened with arrest. It said the true number could be far higher because fear and stigma stop many cases from being reported. UNAMA said the arrests were related to alleged violations of the dress code requirements of the de facto authorities, its term for the Taliban government.

According to UNAMA, women were detained for not wearing a chador, an all-enveloping cloak-like garment, having visible hair, wearing colourful scarves or makeup, or being in public without a mahram, a male chaperone. The mission reported that the women were released after spending several hours in detention. UNAMA said it was gravely concerned by the arrests, detentions and threats of arrest, and said the detentions violate women's and girls' rights to freedom of movement, expression and autonomy.

UNAMA said it was also alarmed by incidents involving verbal abuse, beatings and threats against women, including female shopkeepers. The mission said arrests and detentions expose women and girls to severe social stigma and further marginalisation. It urged the de facto authorities to stop discriminatory enforcement practices targeting women and girls, respect the human rights and dignity of all Afghans, and uphold Afghanistan's obligations under international human rights law.

Separately, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) released findings on critical needs and reintegration barriers for nearly 6.5 million Afghans who have returned from Iran and Pakistan since 2023, UN News reported. "Afghanistan is receiving returnees at a scale and pace that requires sustained support beyond the point of arrival," said Mihyung Park, IOM chief of mission in the country. Park said many returnees intend to stay and rebuild their lives, but that this depends on access to livelihoods, safe shelter, documentation and essential services, alongside support for receiving communities. IOM called for sustained investment in long-term solutions and area-based reintegration approaches that strengthen livelihoods, shelter, documentation support and access to basic services for returnees and host communities.

Earlier this week, the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued four arrest warrants for senior Taliban officials, accusing them of committing crimes against humanity by systematically depriving women and girls in Afghanistan of their rights, DW reported. The Taliban rejected the decision, calling it a politically motivated violation of Afghanistan's sovereignty, according to DW.

In June, Afghan authorities opened fire on a protest in Herat over the arrests and detentions of women for alleged dress code violations, DW reported. According to witnesses and the UN mission, at least one person was killed and several others were injured.