HERAT, Afghanistan: Taliban regime forces opened fire on peaceful protesters in Afghanistan’s western Herat province on Tuesday, killing five people and injuring several other people during a protest against the detention of women and girls accused of violating the group’s dress code.
The protest began early in the morning in Herat’s Jibrail township, where hundreds of residents, including women, gathered to demand the release of women detained in recent days by the Taliban regime’s morality police.
Witnesses, cited by KabulNow, said protesters chanted slogans including “Education, Work, Freedom” as they marched through the area.
Local sources, cited by various media outlets, said Taliban regime forces moved to disperse the gathering and fired on the crowd.
🚨Fifth update: Men and women took to streets in peaceful protest in Herat, calling for education, work, freedom. Reports indicate that Taliban forces responded with force, leaving several people injured. This is the situation of Afghanistan women. Where is UN international… pic.twitter.com/AdElVBojVX
— پایگاه خبری قیام ملی -National Uprising News (@afg_uprising) June 9, 2026
Several protesters were reported injured in the initial crackdown. According to the sources, at least three people, including a child, were taken to a nearby hospital.
Media reports later claimed that at least five people were killed and around 40 others were injured during the unrest.
Videos circulating on social media appeared to show armed Taliban personnel dispersing crowds, including fully veiled women participating in the protest.
In one video, people could be seen running for cover as gunfire by Taliban regime forces echoed in the background.
ویدیوهایی که از جریان سرکوب اعتراضات در هرات منتشر شده، نشان میدهد که جنگجویان طالبان بهگونه مستقیم بر معترضان شلیک میکنند.
در این ویدیو که روز سهشنبه، ۱۹ جوزا منتشر شده، دیده میشود که یک جنگجوی طالبان در حالیکه معترضان در حال ترک ساحه هستند، از پشت به سوی آنان شلیک می… pic.twitter.com/4ojql99Tox
— پایگاه خبری قیام ملی -National Uprising News (@afg_uprising) June 9, 2026
The protest was triggered by the recent arrest by officials from the Taliban’s Ministry for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice, who had detained women accused of failing to comply with mandatory dress requirements.
Taliban forces had also detained women who were already observing the prescribed dress code, which includes covering the face and body, locals said.
Witnesses further said dozens of people, including women and girls, were arrested during the crackdown.
Sayed Masoud Hosseini, spokesperson for Herat police, told the state-run Bakhtar News Agency that the gathering in the Jibrail area had created tensions and disturbed public order under the pretext of opposing the hijab.
He described the hijab as a religious obligation and said security forces intervened to restore order.
The incident drew strong criticism from international human rights officials.
Richard Bennett, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Afghanistan, said he was alarmed by reports of force being used against peaceful demonstrators.
“Alarmed by excessive use of force against seemingly peaceful protesters in Herat today; it’s time to defuse the tension, respect citizens’ freedom of expression, especially women and girls, and avoid further harm,” Bennett wrote on X.
Alarmed by excessive use of force against seemingly peaceful protesters in #Herat today; it’s time to defuse the tension, respect citizens’ freedom of expression, especially women and girls, and avoid further harm. Those responsible for violence must be held accountable.
— UN Special Rapporteur Richard Bennett (@SR_Afghanistan) June 9, 2026
He added that those responsible for violence should be held accountable.
The protest came amid growing international concern over the detention of women and girls in Herat.
According to local sources cited by KabulNow, dozens of women, including pregnant women and nurses, have been detained in recent days by Taliban morality police.
The issue was raised during a United Nations Security Council meeting on Afghanistan on Monday.
Georgette Gagnon, Acting Head of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), told the council that reports indicated around 30 women had been detained in Herat by morality police and other Taliban officials.
On Monday, UNAMA said it was concerned by reports of women being detained in western Afghanistan for allegedly failing to comply with dress requirements. The mission urged Taliban authorities to respect freedom of movement and equality before the law.
Since returning to power in August 2021, the Taliban have imposed sweeping restrictions on women and girls across Afghanistan.
The measures include bans on secondary and university education for girls, severe limitations on women’s employment, restrictions on travel without a male guardian and strict rules governing dress and public behaviour.
The United Nations, foreign governments and human rights organisations have repeatedly condemned the restrictions as systematic discrimination against women and girls.
