Heather Barr, Associate Director of the Women’s Rights Division at Human Rights Watch, has condemned the Taliban’s recent actions, stating that the detention of women for so-called “improper hijab” is not only a form of physical and psychological violence but also part of a broader policy aimed at systematically erasing women’s presence in society and enforcing complete submission.
In a post on her X account, Barr emphasized: “By arresting women over hijab, the Taliban inflict physical and psychological violence, systematically stripping away women’s independence and replacing it with total compliance.”
She added: “No matter what methods or power the Taliban use, we women will still find a way to resist and break free.”
Barr’s remarks come amid reports from Afghanistan indicating that the Taliban have detained women in recent weeks for wearing clothing deemed “contrary to Sharia” by their interpretation.
These actions have heightened concerns about the escalating systematic oppression of women. International human rights organizations have repeatedly warned against the reimposition of severe restrictions on women’s lives, education, and personal freedoms in Afghanistan. Barr’s statements are part of a global response to this alarming trend.
