A demonstration in Jibrail township, northwest of Herat City,erupted into violence when Taliban security forces fired live ammunition and used batons against demonstrators. The crackdown left one person dead and several wounded, according to eyewitness accounts and local media footage.

Live Fire at the Heart of Herat’s Jibrail Township

According to independent reports, armed Taliban fighters used live ammunition and batons to disperse the crowd in Jibrail, a suburb of Herat. The footage obtained by local media shows people fleeing in terror as gunshots rang out, a scene that has been described as “chaotic” by witnesses.

21 Women Detained Amid Rising Dress‑Code Crackdowns

At least 21 women were confirmed detained by the Taliban’s Ministry for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice, though local sources suggest the number is higher . The arrests included a nurse from Herat Regional Hospital and occurred across neighborhoods such as Southern Road, Almas Market, and Qasr locality.

UN Condemnation Highlights International Outrage

The United Nations special rapporteur on human rights in Afghanistan, Richard Bennett, strongly condemned the arrests and the use of force, calling them “illegal and unacceptable.” In a post on X , Bennett expressed deep alarm over the third consecutive day of arbitrary arrests of women in Herat, demanding their immediate release.

What’s Still Unknown About the Arrests?

While the Taliban claim the protest “created tensions” and disturbed public order, witnesses say the gathering was peaceful until security forces intervened. It remains unclear whether the detained women were fully veiled or if the enforcement was truly arbitrary , as some reports suggest officials targeted women already observing the required dress code .

Context : A Rare Public Challenge to Taliban Gender Apartheid

The protest marks one of the most significant public challenges to the Taliban’s gender apartheid policies since they regained power in 2021. the regime’s recent edicts have exlcuded women from education above primary school, banned them from medical institutes,and restricted their access to public transport, markets, and services.