Makeup, colourful scarves: Bizarre reasons Taliban uses to detain women
The UN reports that Taliban authorities in Afghanistan have detained dozens of women for minor dress code violations, such as wearing makeup or colorful scarves. These actions are part of a broader enforcement of strict conduct laws.
Why it matters
The report highlights the systematic erosion of women's rights and personal freedoms under the current Taliban regime.
Afghanistan’s Taliban authorities detained 52 women and one girl between July and September for alleged dress code violations and appearing in public without a male guardian, including for wearing makeup, colourful scarves or leaving their hair visible, the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) said on Thursday.The arrests were reported in Kabul and the western city of Herat. UNAMA said it was “gravely concerned” about the detentions and threats of arrest, warning that safety concerns and stigma could mean many more cases had gone unreported. It also raised alarm over reports of verbal abuse, beatings and threats against women, including female shopkeepers. The Taliban government did not immediately respond to the statement.What can get women detained under Taliban rule?The reasons cited in the latest cases offer a glimpse of how closely the Taliban police women’s appearance and movement in public.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in