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Sources: Taliban detain at least five more women and girls in Herat

Afghanistan International reports that Taliban morality officers detained at least five women and girls in Herat over their dress; this report has not yet been confirmed by other sources

Women | Afghanistan International reports that Taliban morality officers detained at least five women and girls in Herat over their dress; this report has not yet been confirmed by other sources

ACW | October 21, 2026 — Local sources told Afghanistan International that Taliban officers of the Ministry for the Propagation of Virtue and Prevention of Vice detained at least five more women and girls on Lilami Road in Herat city for not wearing the dress the Taliban require.

The report was published on Tuesday (October 20), and it does not say exactly when the detentions took place. According to the sources, videos that have circulated show Taliban officers mistreating women. ACW has not been able to verify the videos independently.

Two other sources told Afghanistan International that the Taliban also detained several women from the family of a Taliban official over their dress. According to these sources, the official clashed with the morality officers and took the women of his family home.

The outlet reports that women in Herat have voiced concern about continued detentions and harassment. The Taliban have not yet responded. This report has not yet been confirmed by other sources.

Background: According to Afghanistan International, detentions of women over dress rules in the Jebrael area of Herat in May–June led to protests in which at least two people were killed. In its latest update, the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) said the Taliban briefly detained 52 women and one girl in Kabul and Herat over dress between July and September 2026.

Why it matters: According to UNAMA, the Taliban morality police arbitrarily detained at least 443 people in the same three months. Enforced religious dress restricts both women's rights and freedom of religion or belief.

ACW will continue to follow this story.

Sources: Afghanistan International — Taliban detain at least five more women in Herat; KabulNow — Taliban morality police arbitrarily detain 443 people in three months, UN says

Photo: VOA / Wikimedia Commons (Public domain)