Local sources in Herat have told media outlets that the Taliban’s Ministry for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice in the province has issued a written directive requesting male heads of households to prevent female family members from going out in public if they are not adhering to what the administration defines as “proper hijab.”
According to a written copy of the directive obtained by media, women appearing in public without a prayer chador, with their faces uncovered, in tight clothing, or wearing makeup, will be detained by morality enforcement officers and transferred to the women’s prison.
The notice also emphasizes compliance with the Taliban’s prescribed dress code and assigns responsibility to male family members for ensuring adherence to these rules.
At the same time, an audio recording has been circulated in Herat stating that this decision was made following a meeting of local Taliban officials and will be implemented starting Saturday, 16 Jowza.
In the audio file, attributed to Taliban morality officials in Herat, it is stressed that the directive must be communicated to residents through neighborhood representatives and mosque imams.
Previously, reports had also emerged of checkpoints being set up by morality enforcers in busy parts of Herat city, where women were questioned about their attire.
According to sources, these checkpoints have been established in areas including Now-e-Shahr, 29th of April Square, Bakarabad, and Lailami Road, with vehicles and taxis also reportedly being stopped and inspected in some cases.
Taliban morality authorities have reportedly informed residents of Herat that certain individuals’ clothing does not meet their prescribed standards.
Since returning to power in Afghanistan, the Taliban has imposed numerous restrictions on women’s rights and freedoms. Human rights organizations state that more than 100 decrees and directives restricting women and girls have been issued by the group to date.
These restrictions include banning girls from education beyond grade six and from university, limiting access to medical training, and prohibiting women from working in non-governmental organizations and certain international agencies.
Writer:Salima Aryaei
