Two Killed as Taliban Police Fire Live Rounds at Herat Protest

Mon Jun 15 2026 08:58:39 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

In Herat, Taliban police used live fire to disperse a street protest over hijab rules, killing two and injuring many, witnesses say.

A protest in Herat against the Taliban’s enforcement of hijab rules turned deadly when police fired live rounds. Two people died and several others were injured according to medics. Protesters claim sticks, whips, and firearms were used. The Taliban denied fatalities but acknowledged a security response. The incident follows a crackdown that began in May 2022 and has seen women detained for improper hijab wear. UN special rapporteur Richard Bennett criticised the excessive use of force.

Two Killed as Taliban Police Fire Live Rounds at Herat Protest

Taliban police used live fire to disperse a rare protest against the detention of women accused of violating strict Islamic dress codes in Herat, witnesses and protesters said.

Medics told the BBC that two people died, but did not specify how. Several others were injured.

Both men and women had taken to the streets days after local Taliban officials began arresting women perceived to be wearing the hijab improperly.

Police denied any deaths but acknowledged they responded to the protest, saying they had "taken action to ensure security and maintain public order". Witnesses said the police opened fire, although police did not confirm this when asked directly.

One protester told AFP that security forces "used sticks, whips and firearms to disperse the crowd. They even fired shots into the air". He saw people wounded, adding that the crowd was "extremely frightened". AFP also quoted a photographer who reported shots fired and wounded protesters.

Video footage online shows gunfire and women shouting "don't beat [them]". Sayed Masoud Hosseini, Herat Police spokesperson, claimed protesters "acted in a manner that disturbed public order" and were "trying to create tension under the pretext of protesting".

UN special rapporteur Richard Bennett expressed alarm at the excessive force used, calling for accountability. Earlier in the week, a clip of protesters chanting "education, work, freedom" circulated.

Protests by women remain rare since the Taliban seized power in 2021. Initial attempts to defy strict rules led to arrests, beatings, and threats of death. Women have noted markets deserted and morality police checking vehicles for hijab compliance.

The Taliban made wearing a hijab mandatory in May 2022. Reports of arrests on Sat were later denied by a provincial department, which called them rumours. The crackdown in Herat began just this Friday, according to witnesses who saw women arrested for lacking a hijab.