Violent Clash Erupts as Women Protest Taliban Dress Code in Afghanistan

WHO:

ABC News - More than 100 protesters participated in the demonstration in Herat.

ABC News - Richard Bennett is the United Nations’ investigator on human rights in Afghanistan.

ABC News - A human rights monitor verified at least 16 arrests and detentions, including of a pregnant woman.

WHAT:

CBS News - Taliban forces denied shooting at protesters and claimed no women or girls were arrested.

BBC - Two people were reportedly killed during the protest.

ABC News - At least three people were injured during the protest.

ABC News - Eyewitnesses reported that armed police opened fire during the protest.

ABC News - The crackdown on demonstrators was linked to the arrest and detention of more than a dozen women over dress code violations.

ABC News - The Taliban imposed strict dress code regulations requiring women to wear full hijab, including a headscarf and face covering.

WHERE:

ABC News - The protest took place in the city of Herat, Afghanistan.

ABC News - The Taliban has been in control of Afghanistan since 2021.

WHEN:

ABC News - The protest occurred on a Tuesday.

ABC News - The arrests and detentions of women began shortly after announcements made during last week's Friday prayers.

WHY:

ABC News - The protests were sparked by the Taliban's strict dress code and the arrests of women for non-compliance.

ABC News - The Taliban's regulations include severe restrictions on women and girls, including bans on education beyond primary school.

HOW:

ABC News - Police reportedly opened fire on protesters, leading to injuries.

ABC News - The Ministry for the Propagation of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice enforces the dress code regulations.

(UPDATED June 9, 2026 19:42 UTC)

In Herat, Afghanistan, more than 100 protesters gathered to demonstrate against the Taliban's strict dress code regulations, which have led to the arrest of over a dozen women, including a pregnant woman. Eyewitnesses reported that armed police opened fire on the crowd, resulting in at least three injuries and two fatalities, while the Taliban denied any involvement in the violence and claimed no women were arrested. Richard Bennett, the United Nations’ investigator on human rights in Afghanistan, has confirmed that a human rights monitor verified at least 16 arrests during the protest, which was sparked by the recent crackdown on women for non-compliance with the Taliban's dress code.