Authorities in the western Afghan city of Herat have arrested at least 30 women for allegedly breaching dress rules imposed by the Taliban, according to the United Nations agency for women’s rights.
UN Women said some of those detained had since been released but warned the arrests had fuelled widespread concern among women and girls across the country.
The detentions prompted protests earlier this week in the Injil district of Herat, which were met with a security response.
The agency said Taliban forces reportedly fired on demonstrators, including men, women and children, and carried out beatings during the unrest.
Reports suggest that officials from the Taliban’s Department for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice, often referred to as the morality police, had detained women in the days leading up to the protests for alleged violations of hijab regulations.
However, local authorities have denied that women were arrested.
Since regaining power in 2021, the Taliban have imposed sweeping restrictions on women and girls in Afghanistan.
These measures have included limits on access to education, employment and sport, drawing sustained international criticism and raising concerns about the erosion of women’s rights.
UN Women said the latest developments risk deepening fear among Afghan women already living under severe constraints.
International organisations have repeatedly called on the Taliban to reverse restrictions on women and uphold fundamental rights, warning that continued measures could further isolate Afghanistan diplomatically and deepen its humanitarian crisis.
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Here's your AnewZ Daily Brief for 11 November. Today, we cover Russia-Ukraine peace talks, political tensions in Washington, strikes in Spain, espionage allegations involving Nvidia's CEO, and climate negotiations at COP31 in Türkiye.
Pakistan is pushing for urgent global action and greater climate funding as Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif attends COP31 in Türkiye, warning that melting glaciers, devastating floods and extreme heat are putting millions of lives and livelihoods at risk.
Armenia has lost its voting rights and the ability to nominate officials for certain posts within the Russian-led Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO). The decision was taken at a summit in Moscow on 11 November, amid years of strained relations between Yerevan and the alliance.
Heavy rain and strong winds have flooded around 70,000 tents across Gaza, leaving displaced Palestinian families exposed to cold, hunger and worsening living conditions as winter approaches, according to local authorities.
Trade along the Middle Corridor is accelerating, opening new opportunities for Central Asia and the South Caucasus as countries strengthen transport links between China and Europe. Cargo volumes reached around 4.7 million tonnes in 2025, up from less than one million tonnes in 2021.
Kazakhstan says the North Aral Sea’s water volume has risen by 24 per cent since 2022, reaching 23.4 billion cubic metres. The figures were unveiled at the COP31 climate conference in Antalya, Türkiye, as the country outlined ambitious plans to accelerate restoration.
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