Antonio Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations, has raised alarm in a recent report about Afghanistan: women and girls continue to be arrested for alleged dress-code violations under Taliban rule. The detentions—often carried out by the Ministry for the Propagation of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice, along with police—highlight the growing crackdown on women’s public presence and autonomy. (Although some local reports cite numbers, I found no independent verification that “at least 60” were arrested in Kabul in one month on “improper hijab” charges as of this writing.)
Key points from UN and media-reports:
Arbitrary arrests of women in Kabul and other provinces for “bad hijab” or failing to comply with prescribed dress codes have been documented. ([UN News][1])
Physical enforcement often includes detentions, warnings, summons for male guardians (mahrams), and sometimes harsher measures. ([UN News][2])
Particular directives have been issued: since May 2022, Taliban decrees say women must cover their bodies fully, show only their eyes in public, and male relatives may be held accountable for enforcing compliance. ([UN News][1])
These practices contribute to fear, isolation, and stigmatization of women and girls; the UN has expressed concern about the impact on dignity, movement in public spaces, access to services, and mental well-being. ([AP News][3])
What remains uncertain / claims not yet substantiated:**
The specific figure of “60 women and girls arrested in Kabul in one month for ‘improper hijab’” attributed to Guterres in some reports has not been confirmed by sources I reviewed.
Details such as age distribution, detention conditions, whether victims are released without charge or under threat, vary across accounts and sometimes lack independent verification.
