On Tuesday, Taliban forces reportedly opened fire on protesters in Jibrail township, Herat, Afghanistan, who were demonstrating against the detention of women and girls for violating the Taliban's strict dress code. Eyewitness accounts describe scenes of chaos, with armed officials beating protesters and gunfire ringing out, leading to injuries among the crowd. The protests were sparked by the recent arrests of dozens of women, including a nurse, by the Taliban's Ministry for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice. Richard Bennett, the UN special rapporteur on human rights in Afghanistan, condemned these actions, labeling them illegal and calling for the immediate release of the detained women. Since the Taliban's return to power in 2021, restrictions on women's rights have intensified, including bans on education and severe limitations on public life. The protests represent a significant challenge to the Taliban's oppressive policies, with the UN highlighting the deteriorating human rights situation in Afghanistan, particularly for women and girls.