The United Nations has expressed concern over reports that women in western Afghanistan have been arrested and detained for allegedly failing to comply with Taliban dress requirements.
The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) said it was concerned by reports of "multiple arrests and detentions of women" in Herat province. While the UN did not provide figures, local media reported last week that at least 21 women and girls had been detained.
In a statement posted on X late on Sunday, UNAMA said the reported detentions raised "serious human rights concerns."
"We remind the de facto authorities that all people have the right to freedom of movement and that all persons, both women and men, are entitled to equality before the law," the mission said.
The reported arrests came after local media reported that Taliban authorities had issued a directive banning women from appearing in public without what was described as a "proper hijab."
According to those reports, women showing their faces or wearing make-up could face punitive measures. Reuters was unable to independently verify the directive.
The Taliban did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the reported detentions or the alleged directive.
For many Afghan women, the reports have added to growing uncertainty about their place in public life. Since returning to power in 2021, the Taliban has introduced wide-ranging restrictions affecting women and girls, including limits on education, employment and participation in sport.
The measures have drawn international criticism and concern from human rights groups.
In April, UNICEF warned that Afghanistan could lose more than 25,000 female teachers and health workers by 2030 if restrictions on girls' education and women's employment remain in force.
The Taliban has repeatedly said it respects women's rights in line with its interpretation of Islamic law.
Flights from Shiraz's main airport have been cancelled until 20:00 local time, according to Iranian media, as Iran and Israel continue exchanging stri...
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan's party is on course for victory, with Armenian media reporting that the country's Central Election Commission...
Start your day informed with the AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top stories for the 8 June, covering the latest developments you need to know....
Barcelona is preparing to mark a historic milestone in the legacy of architect Antoni Gaudí as Pope Leo XIV visits the city this week to inaugurate t...
The United Nations has expressed concern over reports that women in western Afghanistan have been arrested and detained for allegedly failing to compl...
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan's party is on course for victory, with Armenian media reporting that the country's Central Election Commission has completed the vote count in the parliamentary elections. An official announcement is still expected.
Start your day informed with the AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top stories for the 8 June, covering the latest developments you need to know.
Barcelona is preparing to mark a historic milestone in the legacy of architect Antoni Gaudí as Pope Leo XIV visits the city this week to inaugurate the Tower of Jesus Christ at the Sagrada Família basilica, almost exactly 100 years after the visionary architect’s death.
A powerful earthquake struck off the southern Philippine island of Mindanao on Monday (8 June), killing at least 15 people and triggering tsunami warnings across the region.
Counting is underway in Armenia's elections. The results of the vote are set to determine the political direction of the country of three million people for the next few years. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan is hoping to fend off challenges from several pro-Russia candidates to secure a third term.
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan's party is on course for victory, with Armenian media reporting that the country's Central Election Commission has completed the vote count in the parliamentary elections. An official announcement is still expected.
Armenian authorities arrested six candidates from the pro-Russian Strong Armenia bloc on Saturday, one day before voters were due to take part in parliamentary elections.
Azerbaijan's Foreign Ministry has confirmed the number of casualties its citizens suffered as a result of the 5 June drone attacks on the cargo ships Natra and Zircon in the Sea of Azov. In a statement, it said four Azerbaijani citizens were killed and four others were injured.
The results of Armenia’s parliamentary elections will determine the makeup of the National Assembly and shape the country's political direction for the foreseeable future. But in Armenia, the final result is not decided by vote percentages alone. Here's how it works.
Azerbaijan's Foreign Ministry has confirmed the number of casualties its citizens suffered as a result of the 5 June drone attacks on the cargo ships Natra and Zircon in the Sea of Azov. In a statement, it said four Azerbaijani citizens were killed and four others were injured.
The United Nations has warned that Afghanistan has one of the highest maternal mortality rates in the world, with around 600 mothers dying for every 100,000 live births.
In a workshop surrounded by the wreckage of war, workers in Gaza are giving a second life to small leisure boats once used for family outings and swimming trips.
A seven-month-old Palestinian baby has been killed and his parents injured after Israeli forces fired at a vehicle in Hebron, Palestinian health officials say.
The U.S. said it struck Iranian radar sites on Qeshm Island and in Goruk after intercepting four drones, while Iran's Revolutionary Guards said they launches retaliatory strikes on four tankers in the Strait of Hormuz and targeted U.S. bases in the Gulf.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment