Fawzia Koofi, a women’s rights activist and former member of Afghanistan’s parliament, has called on the people of Herat to engage in civil disobedience against what she describes as the Taliban’s “repression of women.”
In a statement, Koofi said that the Taliban had detained 60 women in Herat province over the past two days for what was described as “improper hijab.” She condemned the arrests as a clear violation of women’s fundamental rights and freedoms and urged citizens not to remain silent in the face of these restrictions.
Her remarks come as the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) has also expressed concern over the detention of women in Herat for allegedly failing to comply with dress code regulations and has called for respect for the fundamental rights and freedoms of citizens.
The Taliban have not yet issued an official response to Koofi’s statements
