Oct 09, Kathmandu - At least 52 women and a girl have been arrested in the Afghan cities of Herat and Kabul for violating the dress code.

According to the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), they were detained between July and September 2026. They were detained for not wearing a veil, showing their hair, wearing colorful scarves or makeup, and walking in public without a male guardian.

They were released a few hours later. UNAMA said the number of victims could be higher as full details of the incident have not been released. UNAMA expressed concern that the arrest, intimidation and detention of women and girls violates their rights to freedom of movement, expression and personal autonomy.

Earlier, in June, at least one person was killed and several others were injured when security forces opened fire on a protest against the dress code in Herat. Since returning to power in 2021, the Taliban government has imposed strict restrictions on women.