The Taliban authorities controlling Afghanistan reported this Sunday the detention of an indeterminate number of women and girls in Kabul and in the province of Herat for the "serious crime" of not respecting the dress code that mandates the use of the burka.
A spokesperson for the Ministry of Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice, Saifudin Jaibar, has confirmed these arrests for this "serious crime," as the current regulations establish that women must cover their bodies completely, as reported by the Amu TV network.
"Not complying with the hijab is a very serious crime. The hijab is a religious obligation and the laws in force in Afghanistan stipulate that a Muslim woman must comply with the hijab. She must cover herself from head to toe," he explained.
On Saturday, information was disseminated about the detention of eight women in Herat. They remained in custody overnight and regained their freedom the following morning after making a commitment and paying a bail.
This is not the first occasion on which women and girls have been arrested in Afghanistan for their way of dressing, a practice that has been denounced by Afghan and international human rights organizations.
Since the Taliban regained power in August 2021, they have imposed multiple restrictions on Afghan women, including the prohibition of access to secondary and university education, the limitation of the jobs they can apply for, and the reduction of their presence in public life.