Richard Bennett, the UN special rapporteur on human rights in Afghanistan, has expressed concern over the excessive use of force against protesters in Herat. He called for de-escalation, respect for freedom of expression and accountability for those responsible for violence.
In a post on X on Tuesday, Bennett said: “t’s time to defuse the tension, respect citizens’ freedom of expression, especially women and girls, and avoid further harm.”
The UN rapporteur had earlier reported that, for a third consecutive day, large numbers of women in Herat had been arbitrarily detained for allegedly violating the Taliban’s dress code rules.
He stressed that such detentions were unlawful and unacceptable, adding that the arrests must stop and the women should be released immediately.
