The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) said it was concerned about multiple arrests and detentions of women in Herat for alleged non-compliance with dress requirements. The mission did not specify the number of people affected, although local media reports said at least 21 women and girls had been detained.

In a statement posted on X late Sunday, UNAMA reminded Afghanistan’s de facto authorities that all people are entitled to freedom of movement and equal treatment under the law, regardless of gender.

The reported detentions followed a Taliban directive issued last week requiring women appearing in public to wear what authorities described as a “proper hijab,” according to local media. Reports said women who showed their faces or wore makeup could face punitive measures. Reuters could not independently verify the directive.

The Taliban administration did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the reported arrests.

Since returning to power in 2021, the Taliban has imposed extensive restrictions on women and girls, limiting access to secondary and higher education, employment opportunities and organized sports. The policies have drawn criticism from the United Nations, Western governments and international rights organizations.

Taliban officials maintain that women’s rights are protected under their interpretation of Islamic law.

The issue has also raised concerns about Afghanistan’s long-term social and economic development. A UNICEF report published in April warned that continued restrictions on girls’ education and women’s employment could leave the country short of more than 25,000 female teachers and healthcare workers by 2030.

KInternational agencies have repeatedly argued that women’s participation in education, healthcare and the workforce is critical to addressing Afghanistan’s humanitarian and development challenges.