NEW YORK: UN human rights experts on Thursday condemned the detention by the Taliban regime in Afghanistan of dozens of women for alleged dress code violations and expressed alarm over the use of force against protesters demonstrating against the arrests.
The experts said they were “deeply concerned” by reports that Taliban authorities detained dozens of women in Herat in western Afghanistan on June 6-7 for allegedly violating restrictions on women’s attire, including requirements to wear a burka or chador with a face covering and a ban on perfume.
Protests erupted in Herat on June 9 in response to the arrests and increasingly restrictive measures imposed on women. Taliban officials fired on demonstrators and beat protesters, including men, women and children. At least two people, including a boy, were reportedly killed and more than 20 injured.
“Use of force in law enforcement is strictly restricted under international law,” the experts said. “It is permitted only when it is legal, necessary and proportionate to the threat posed to officers or to others.”
While noting reports that some protesters threw stones, the experts said such actions “would not, in themselves, meet the strict threshold for the use of lethal force.”
The independent UN-appointed human rights experts are Richard Bennett, the UN special rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Afghanistan; Reem Alsalem, special rapporteur on violence against women and girls; Morris Tidball-Binz, special rapporteur on extrajudicial executions; Alice Jill Edwards, special rapporteur on torture; Gina Romero, special rapporteur on freedom of peaceful assembly and association; and members of the Working Group on discrimination against women and girls.
The experts also criticized the arrests of women over alleged dress code violations.
“Allegations that women were detained for dress code violations are deeply concerning and may constitute arbitrary and unlawful detention, as it appears to penalize the exercise of their right to freedom of expression and right to be free from gender discrimination,” they said.
The group called on the Taliban to conduct a prompt, independent, and transparent investigations into the use of force by officials and determine whether lethal force was “strictly necessary and proportionate to protect life.”
They also urged the authorities to immediately release detainees, including women arrested over dress code violations and protesters, refrain from ill-treatment, allow access to medical care for the injured and stop house searches.
“Equality, peaceful assembly, freedom of expression and movement, and protection from arbitrary detention are fundamental rights essential to restoring public confidence and preventing further deterioration of the situation,” the experts said.
Special rapporteurs are independent experts appointed by the UN Human Rights Council to monitor and report on human rights issues. They serve in their personal capacities, are not UN staff members, and do not receive a salary for their work.
