On Tuesday, Afghan security forces violently dispersed a protest in Herat against the detention of women accused of violating the Taliban's strict hijab regulations. Eyewitnesses reported that police opened fire on demonstrators, injuring at least three people, with some claiming one individual was killed, although this has not been independently confirmed. The protest, which involved over 100 participants, was sparked by the recent detention of women for alleged hijab violations. Richard Bennett, the UN Special Rapporteur on human rights in Afghanistan, expressed alarm over the violence against what he described as peaceful protesters and called for accountability from Afghan authorities. Taliban officials, however, denied any reports of arrests, stating that the protest disrupted public order. They emphasized that adherence to hijab is a religious obligation. Since regaining control in 2021, the Taliban has imposed severe restrictions on women, including mandatory full-body hijabs, drawing widespread international condemnation and concerns from human rights organizations.