Taliban Arrest Women for 'Bad Hijab' in First Dress Code Crackdown Since 2021

The move comes amid international concern over the Taliban's treatment of women and girls, and follows a recent call by the UN Security Council for a special envoy to engage with the Taliban on gender and human rights.

• The Taliban have arrested women in the Afghan capital for wearing 'bad hijab', marking the first official confirmation of a crackdown on women who don't follow the dress code imposed by the Taliban since they returned to power in 2021.
• The Vice and Virtue Ministry did not disclose how many women have been arrested or what constitutes 'bad hijab'.
• The arrests come less than a week after the UN Security Council called for a special envoy to engage with the Taliban, especially on gender and human rights.
• The Taliban criticized the idea of a special envoy, stating that such envoys have 'complicated situations further via the imposition of external solutions.'
• U.S. State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller expressed concern about the Taliban’s 'repressive edicts against women and girls and its unwillingness to foster inclusive governance.'

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