UN Condemns Taliban's Arrest of Afghan Women Over Dress Code

The United Nations has raised an alarm over the recent arrest of Afghan women and girls by the Taliban for purportedly failing to adhere to the prescribed dress code, which mandates covering themselves with a burqa.

According to a decree issued in May 2022 by the Taliban, women must conceal their faces and wear a head-to-toe burqa. Reports from the UN mission in Afghanistan show that numerous women and girls were detained between July 16 and 19 in Kabul for not following these strict guidelines.

The UN has called on the Taliban government to reverse its policies that limit women's fundamental rights, including restrictions on education beyond the sixth grade. The Taliban has yet to provide an official response, with its Vice and Virtue Ministry continuing to enforce harsh dress code laws.

(With inputs from agencies.)