BAHARAN LAHIB

Herat_On June 5,reports emerged from Herat city in Afghanistan stating that members of the Ministry for the Propagatioin of VIrtue and the Prevention of Vice had detained women on charges related to the hijab,Eyewitnesses and video reports indicated that these charges served as a cover for harsh practices and grave violations against detainees 'rights,including severe abuse and mistreatment inside detention centers.Following the release of some girls,tragic news emerged of suicides among them as a result of the trauma and suffering they endured.'

These events sparked widespread outrage among Herat's residents,prompting them to take to the streets in protest. However,they were met with gunfire from Taliban military forces,resulting in injuries.Reports from the area indicated that the injured were prevented from receiving necessary treatment at that the injured were prevented form receiving necessary treatment at the regioinal hospital,later leading to death of one protester form his wounds.Taliban authorities imposed strict security measures and a military blocked during burial ceremonies to prevent renewed protests,and an intense military presence continued in the city's streets for several days.

Eyewitnesses reported that women continue to be detained by members of the Ministry for the Propagation of Virture and the Prevention of Vice in Herat.Local residents do not consider the hijab issue to be the primary cause of these abuses,but attribute them to arbitrary practices by the movement's elements there,pointing to grave physical violations against women and girls in particular.

According to a report by the feminist organization Femena, 17 women were arrested in Herat over the past five days on charges of non-compliance with hijab standards. The report indicated that the detainees were searched and arrested despite wearing the burqa or chador.

Among those detained was Khatira Jami, a social media activist and promoter of online book sales, whose family and friends still do not know her fate to this day. Prior to her arrest, she had been subjected to pressure to force her to delete her activities from social media. Earlier, in the winter of 2026, the Taliban had closed a café she had established in Herat.

Khatira Jami herself was arrested in mid-July. Noshin Azimi, one of her close friends, said in an interview with our agency: "Because I have always been interested in reading and writing, I got to know Khatira through social media. There were many women like me who were in contact with her and got their favorite books through her."

Noshin Azimi appeared visibly disturbed during her account,especially when she began speaking about the day of Khatira Jami's arrest."On the day of the arrest,I was there with a friend who owns a small,tranquil library.We were just about to leave the library when I noticed it was surrounded." We moved away from the place in panic and confusion. Moments later, I noticed that Khatira's hands were handcuffed, and they were dragging her by force to board a Taliban military vehicle.

She paused for a moment, then continued: "Every time I think about Khatira's detention, her situation shocks me. You would think the Taliban had arrested the most dangerous criminal. She was resisting not to go with them,but they took her by force,beating her."

In Herat,the name"Khatira Jami" has become associated with another narrative among the stories of Afghan women?_those who have tried hard to maintain a space for educatiion,culture,and social interactioin under the Taliban's extensive restrictions,but have faceddetention and threats. As long as the fate of detainees remains unrevealed, and no independent mechanism exists to investigate these cases, concerns about the situation of women detainees will persist.