UN ‘concerned' as Afghan women arrested over Taliban dress code
The United Nations expressed its 'concern' on Monday over a series of arrests of Afghan women in the capital Kabul who were accused of breaching the Taliban government's strict dress code, with officials denying such detentions.
Since their return to power in 2021, the Taliban authorities have imposed a severe interpretation of Islamic law and require all women to be covered from head to toe.
The UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) said it was 'concerned by the arrest of numerous women & girls in Kabul between 16-19 July due to their alleged non-compliance with the de facto authorities' hijab instructions'.
'These incidents serve to further isolate women and girls, contribute to a climate of fear, and erode public trust,' the agency wrote on X, adding that they had contacted the authorities about the matter.
A witness told AFP last week that while driving in central Kabul, he saw a unit of the Ministry for Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice (PVPV) 'telling two women to go with them in the car'.
The women were wearing flowing abaya robes and wearing make-up. They resisted getting into the vehicle but were forced to do so by a PVPV official who was holding a gun, the witness said on condition of anonymity.
The Taliban authorities denied the arrests and said they have 'only campaigned for (the) hijab' dress code.
'But there's nothing like arresting someone or taking anyone to jail,' PVPV spokesman Saiful Islam Khyber told AFP.
Over the past four years, women have been progressively isolated by the Taliban authorities, which have banned them from universities, public parks, gyms and beauty salons, in what the UN has denounced as 'gender apartheid'.
The Taliban government says that their interpretation of Islamic law 'guarantees' everyone's rights and that allegations of discrimination are 'unfounded'.
On Monday, UNAMA called on the Taliban authorities 'to rescind policies and practices that restrict women and girls' human rights and fundamental freedoms'.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CTV News
a day ago
- CTV News
Indonesia begins releasing hundreds of prisoners under president's clemency plan
Supporters of Indonesia's former Trade Minister Tom Lembong, who was sentenced to more than four years in prison gather in front of the gate of Cipinang prison in Jakarta, Indonesia, Friday, Aug. 1, 2025 as the country prepares to release hundreds of prisoners under president's clemency plan. (AP Photo/Achmad Ibrahim)
CTV News
a day ago
- CTV News
Family fears for elderly UK couple held by Taliban
The family of elderly British couple Peter and Barbie Reynolds, detained for six months without charge in Afghanistan, fears the worst as their health declines. 'I don't know if they're still alive,' said their son, Jonathan Reynolds, who has not spoken to his parents since their last phone call on June 15. 'How would I know if they were no longer alive? Who's going to call me? The Taliban's never called me. Who's going to call? I don't know,' asked Reynolds, one of the couple's four children. Peter Reynolds, 80, and his 76-year-old wife were arrested in February along with Chinese-American friend, Faye Hall, who was released in March, and an Afghan translator. The couple were married in Kabul in 1970, and have spent almost two decades living in Afghanistan running educational programs after moving there. They also became official Afghan citizens. Taliban officials have refused to detail why the couple was arrested in February as they were returning to their home in central Bamiyan province. 'They were told by the judge that they were not guilty of any crimes,' said their son. 'So many times we've been told two to three days and then you'll be released ... But it's six months on Saturday,' he added. The couple were first held in a maximum security facility, 'then in underground cells, without daylight, before being transferred' to the intelligence services in Kabul, according to UN experts. In late July, the independent UN human rights experts called for the Taliban to free the pair warning of the 'rapid deterioration' of their physical and mental health, stating that they 'risk irreparable harm or even death'. UN experts shared a voice message from the couple with their son, but he has not been reassured. 'You have to remember their age,' Reynolds, 45, told AFP during a video call from his home in Chicago. 'Are they in danger? Yeah, they're an elderly couple who are unjustly held ... in captivity. They are not free,' he said. 'Their bodies are not used to being put through this, they're being trapped, they're sleeping on a little mattress on the floor,' he said. 'Weak and fragile' The couple's children have set up a website called Free Peter and Barbie to campaign for their release, which counts down the number of days they have been held. Since being detained, Peter Reynolds has suffered two eye infections and intermittent tremors in his head and left arm, according to the UN experts. 'My dad has had heart attacks ... he has a stent in his heart. He has had skin cancer,' Jonathan Reynolds said. 'So he needs an ECG (electrocardiogram), blood test, EEG (electroencephalogram), CT scans. He needs all of that,' he added. His mother suffers from malnourishment and anemia after months of being 'fed once a day in prison,' her son added. She is 'weak and fragile,' the experts said. The Taliban government's top diplomat Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi said the couple had been receiving medical care. 'Their human rights are being respected,' he told a press conference in Kabul. 'They are being provided with medical care. They are in occasional contact with their families.' 'Their case isn't anything serious,' the Taliban interior ministry said in April, adding they hoped it would be 'resolved soon'. The couple run an organization in Afghanistan called Rebuild, which provides educational programs for women and children. 'My parents have never thought about their security and safety,' Reynolds said, it was 'no way to treat an elderly couple who've given the last two decades of their life for the good of Afghanistan'. When the Taliban returned to power in 2021, the couple remained in Afghanistan against the advice of the British embassy. Their son recalled the embassy asking them: 'Why are you staying? You're on your own.' His parents had replied: 'How could we leave these people in their darkest hour? We came here because we love these people, and that's what we'll give the rest of our lives to, even if it means we die.'
Toronto Sun
a day ago
- Toronto Sun
Family fears for elderly U.K. couple held by Taliban
Published Aug 01, 2025 • 3 minute read An undated handout picture released by the family of Peter and Barbie Reynolds shows the couple at an unknown location in Afghanistan where they have lived for more than two decades before being arrested and held without charge by the Taliban Photo by - / London (AFP) — The family of elderly British couple Peter and Barbie Reynolds, detained for six months without charge in Afghanistan, fears the worst as their health declines. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account 'I don't know if they're still alive,' said their son, Jonathan Reynolds, who has not spoken to his parents since their last phone call on June 15. 'How would I know if they were no longer alive? Who's going to call me? The Taliban's never called me. Who's going to call? I don't know,' asked Reynolds, one of the couple's four children. Peter Reynolds, 80, and his 76-year-old wife were arrested in February along with Chinese-American friend, Faye Hall, who was released in March, and an Afghan translator. The couple were married in Kabul in 1970, and have spent almost two decades living in Afghanistan running educational programmes after moving there. They also became official Afghan citizens. Taliban officials have refused to detail why the couple was arrested in February as they were returning to their home in central Bamiyan province. Your noon-hour look at what's happening in Toronto and beyond. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'They were told by the judge that they were not guilty of any crimes,' said their son. 'So many times we've been told two to three days and then you'll be released … But it's six months on Saturday,' he added. The couple were first held in a maximum security facility, 'then in underground cells, without daylight, before being transferred' to the intelligence services in Kabul, according to UN experts. In late July, the independent UN human rights experts called for the Taliban to free the pair warning of the 'rapid deterioration' of their physical and mental health, stating that they 'risk irreparable harm or even death'. UN experts shared a voice message from the couple with their son, but he has not been reassured. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'You have to remember their age,' Reynolds, 45, told AFP during a video call from his home in Chicago. 'Are they in danger? Yeah, they're an elderly couple who are unjustly held … in captivity. They are not free,' he said. 'Their bodies are not used to being put through this, they're being trapped, they're sleeping on a little mattress on the floor,' he said. – 'Weak, fragile' – The couple's children have set up a website called Free Peter and Barbie to campaign for their release, which counts down the number of days they have been held. Since being detained, Peter Reynolds has suffered two eye infections and intermittent tremors in his head and left arm, according to the UN experts. 'My dad has had heart attacks … he has a stent in his heart. He has had skin cancer,' Jonathan Reynolds said. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'So he needs an ECG (electrocardiogram), blood test, EEG (electroencephalogram), CT scans. He needs all of that,' he added. His mother suffers from malnourishment and anaemia after months of being 'fed once a day in prison,' her son added. She is 'weak and fragile,' the experts said. The Taliban government's top diplomat Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi said the couple had been receiving medical care. Afghan men walk on a road in Bamiyan province leading to the site where the Buddha statue once stood before being destroyed by the Taliban in March 2001. (MOHAMMAD FAISAL NAWEED/AFP) Photo by MOHAMMAD FAISAL NAWEED / AFP 'Their human rights are being respected,' he told a press conference in Kabul. 'They are being provided with medical care. They are in occasional contact with their families.' 'Their case isn't anything serious,' the Taliban interior ministry said in April, adding they hoped it would be 'resolved soon'. The couple run an organisation in Afghanistan called Rebuild, which provides educational programmes for women and children. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'My parents have never thought about their security and safety,' Reynolds said, it was 'no way to treat an elderly couple who've given the last two decades of their life for the good of Afghanistan'. When the Taliban returned to power in 2021, the couple remained in Afghanistan against the advice of the British embassy. Their son recalled the embassy asking them: ''Why are you staying? You're on your own''. His parents had replied: ''How could we leave these people in their darkest hour? We came here because we love these people, and that's what we'll give the rest of our lives to, even if it means we die''. Toronto & GTA Columnists World Canada Sunshine Girls
