UN human rights experts on 12 June expressed grave concern over reports of excessive use of force against demonstrators in Herat, Afghanistan, where two people — including a boy — were killed and more than twenty others were injured after Taliban officials allegedly opened fire on protesters opposing restrictive dress code measures imposed on women.

What Triggered the Protests

According to the UN experts, the unrest was sparked by the detention of dozens of women in Herat city on 6 and 7 June over alleged dress code violations. The Taliban's order requires women to wear a burka or chador with a face mask and bans the use of perfume. On 9 June, people — men, women, and children — gathered in Herat to protest what experts described as increasingly 'repressive restrictions'. Taliban officials allegedly opened fire on the crowd and beat protesters.

What the UN Experts Said

The experts issued a pointed warning on the legal limits of state force. 'Use of force in law enforcement is strictly restricted under international law. It is permitted only when it is legal, necessary, and proportionate to the threat posed to officers or to others and when it respects principles of precaution, non-discrimination, and accountability,' they stated.

The experts further noted that as the de facto authority in Afghanistan, the Taliban is bound by international human rights treaties to which Afghanistan remains a party — including the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the Convention against Torture, and the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW).

Allegations of Arbitrary Detention

The UN experts said allegations that women were detained solely for dress code violations 'may constitute arbitrary and unlawful detention,' as such detentions appear to penalise the exercise of the right to freedom of expression and the right to be free from gender discrimination. They called on Taliban authorities to launch a prompt, independent, impartial, and transparent investigation into the use of force by officials.

'Equality, peaceful assembly, freedom of expression and movement, and protection from arbitrary detention are fundamental rights essential to restoring public confidence and preventing further deterioration of the situation,' the experts said.

EU Condemns Crackdown, Stands with Afghan Women

The European Union separately and strongly condemned the use of excessive force in Herat and the arbitrary arrests of women. Anouar El Anouni, the EU's spokesman for foreign affairs, posted on social media platform X on Thursday: 'We condemn the excessive use of force in Herat and arbitrary arrests of women for violating dress code instructions. The de facto authorities must respect international human rights obligations, including the right to peaceful protest. The EU stands with Afghan women.'

A Deepening Pattern of Repression

This incident is the latest in a series of escalating restrictions on Afghan women since the Taliban returned to power in 2021. Women have been progressively barred from secondary and university education, employment in most sectors, and public spaces without a male guardian. The Herat crackdown marks one of the most violent documented responses to women-led or women-triggered protests under Taliban rule, and signals a hardening posture against any form of public dissent. International rights bodies warn that without accountability, such incidents are likely to recur.