At least three women have been arrested in recent days in Mazar-i-Sharif city for “improper hijab”, according to local sources.
Four local sources have told Rukhshana Media the arrests happened in recent days, adding to fears the Taliban campaign of detaining girls and women is spreading.
Since January 1, dozens of women in Kabul have been arrested and detained for what the Taliban has said is an inappropriate hijab. There are also reports of similar arrests in Daikundi, Bamyan and Ghazni provinces.
Mahbooba has been left traumatised after being arrested by the Taliban’s “morality police”, connected to the Ministry of Vice and Virtue, while on her way home from work at Mazar-e-Sharif’s Abu Ali Sina regional hospital.
“For three or four days, Mahbooba’s mother had not allowed her to go to work because [they heard] of the arrests of women and girls. But on Sunday, a delegation was coming to monitor the hospital where Mahbooba worked, that’s why she went,” a relative of Mahbooba told Rukhshana Media.
“When Mahbooba was on her way home after work, the Taliban stopped her and asked where’s her mahram [male chaperone] and questioned her about her clothing. Then they put her into their military vehicle and took her away.”
The relative said that after spending three hours in detention, Mahbooba was released after an intervention from local elders, a guarantee, and payment of money.
“Her family is in a very bad situation. Even after three days have passed, her mother keeps crying and Mahbooba is still in shock. Since she was released, Mahbooba is neither eating nor sleeping,” the relative said.
Nasima* said she allegedly saw Mahbooba’s arrest, saying the Taliban group took a woman away from the regional hospital for “not observing” the hijab.
“It was about three o’clock in the afternoon when the vice and virtue police stopped a woman who appeared to be the same age as me. Her abaya [the outer coat-like dress] was shorter, and she wore her hijab in such a way that some of her hair was visible. She was put into a Ford Ranger,” Nasima told Rukhshana Media.
“There was no woman with the Taliban forces and this woman was alone. One of the Taliban members took the woman by force and pushed her into the vehicle. No one stopped the Taliban because everyone was afraid. The poor woman was crying and apologizing a lot, but the Taliban mercilessly took her away.”
Residents in Mazar’s Darwaz-e-Tashqorghan area have also reported seeing two girls arrested.
“It was about 8.30 or 9.00 in the morning, I was about to go to work when I saw the Taliban arrest two girls. One of them had a proper hijab and had no fault, but the second one’s dress was a little short. Some of her hair was visible, and it looked like she was wearing tight pants. The Taliban said some ugly words to her and wanted her to go with them,” said Monisa*, who witnessed the arrest.
“When the girl who was wearing the correct hijab spoke in support of the other girl, a Talib said to her, ‘If you don’t want your friend to be alone, then come, we will take you too.’ Then they took both of them away in their Ford Ranger.”
Dozens of women and girls have been arrested in Kabul and other provinces since January 1 with many reporting that the Taliban forces have subjected some of them to interrogation, beatings, torture, and extorted money from their families for release.
It is unknown what the exact number of girls and women have been arrested or who are still being detained as there are no official records kept or shared of these incidents.
