Doctors Without Borders reported one of its paramedics was detained for two days in Herat, Afghanistan, for allegedly violating dress code rules by not wearing a face covering while en route to work. The incident occurred amid a broader crackdown on women's dress codes in the country.
The detention of an MSF staffer highlights the severe restrictions on women in Afghanistan and the risks faced by healthcare workers. It underscores the Taliban's enforcement of strict dress codes, which has led to protests and casualties.
A Doctors Without Borders (MSF) paramedic was among women arrested in Afghanistan for alleged dress code violations, the medical aid organization stated. The paramedic was detained for two days in Herat for not wearing a face covering while en route to her hospital job, according to MSF program manager Sarah Champion.
MSF expressed outrage over the arrest, noting that women in Afghanistan face severe restrictions on movement and access to public life, impacting healthcare delivery. The United Nations reported that at least 30 women were arrested in Herat over similar alleged infringements of the country's dress code.
These arrests sparked a rare protest in Herat on Monday, which was violently dispersed by Taliban police. The UN mission in Afghanistan indicated that at least one person died from gunfire and several others were injured during the police response to the protest.
Before their release, the MSF staffer and her husband were required to sign a commitment that she would wear a niqab, a garment covering the entire face except for the eyes. Failure to comply could result in a month's imprisonment. The woman's male relatives also had to co-sign the document to guarantee her husband's compliance with the dress regulations.