UN Asks Taliban to Stop Arresting Women Over Clothing

The United Nations has asked the Taliban in Afghanistan to stop arresting women for not following dress rules. Last week, at least 21 women and girls were arrested in a province called Herat. The UN says this is wrong and that all people should be treated equally. The Taliban has been making strict rules for women since they took control of Afghanistan in 2021.

The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan, or UNAMA, shared their concerns on social media on Sunday. They said they were worried about the many arrests of women in Herat province. The women were arrested because officials said they were not wearing the right clothes. This creates serious problems with human rights, according to the UN.

The UN reminded Taliban leaders that all people have the right to move around freely. They also said that women and men should be treated equally under the law. The Taliban has not responded to questions about these arrests. Local news reports say the women were detained for not following dress requirements.

The arrests happened after the Taliban made a new rule last week. This rule said women must wear what the Taliban calls a proper hijab when they go out in public. Women who don't follow this dress code could face punishment. The rule also said women cannot show their faces or wear makeup.

Since the Taliban took power in Afghanistan's capital city, Kabul, in 2021, they have made many strict rules for women and girls. Women cannot go to school past elementary grades in most places. They also cannot work in many jobs or play sports. Many countries around the world have criticized these rules.

A report from UNICEF in April warned about what might happen if these rules continue. UNICEF is an organization that helps children around the world. The report said Afghanistan could lose more than 25,000 female teachers and health workers by 2030. This would happen if girls cannot get an education and women cannot work.