The Kabul Tribune (KT)_The United Nations mission in Afghanistan said Thursday it is gravely concerned about the arrest, detention and threats against women and girls by the Taliban authorities in several parts of the country.
The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan, or UNAMA, said it had verified that at least 52 women and one girl were arrested or detained in Herat and Kabul between July and September.
Other women also faced threats of arrest, the mission said.
The cases may be significantly underreported because of protection concerns and social stigma, UNAMA said.
The women were detained over alleged violations of dress code requirements imposed by Afghanistan’s de facto authorities. Some were accused of not wearing a chador, while others were detained for having visible hair, wearing colorful scarves or makeup, or appearing in public without a male relative, known as a mahram.
UNAMA said the women were released after spending several hours in detention.
The mission also expressed concern about reports of verbal abuse, beatings and threats against women, including female shopkeepers.
“Arrests and detentions also expose women and girls to severe social stigma and further marginalization,” UNAMA said.
The mission said the measures violate women’s and girls’ rights to freedom of movement, freedom of expression and personal autonomy.
UNAMA urged Afghanistan’s de facto authorities to end what it called discriminatory enforcement practices targeting women and girls and to respect the human rights and dignity of all Afghans.
It also called on the authorities to uphold Afghanistan’s obligations under international human rights law.
