Sara, a 20-year-old living in Herat, Afghanistan, shared how the Taliban's pressure on women has completely changed her daily life. Working as an English teacher at a private school, Sara said she has not left her home for three days after her father told her that girls were being detained on the streets.
She described her environment as "terrifying." According to her, tensions in the neighborhood increased following the Taliban's detentions and searches of women, causing people to hesitate to leave their homes.
The report notes that three days ago, the Taliban intervened in peaceful protests by opening fire, using violence, and detaining demonstrators. It was also reported that men took to the streets to support women and oppose detentions justified by headscarf issues.
After the protests were suppressed, Sara said Taliban members patrolled the streets searching for demonstrators, taking some individuals to unknown locations after checking their phones. She also recounted a friend’s account of injured protesters being loaded into vehicles without receiving medical treatment.
The young woman said she has become estranged even from her own body and clothing. When going outside, her first thought is not where she is going but the color of her clothes and whether her hair is visible.
According to Sara, the pressure is felt not only outside but also at home. Her father, mother, and sibling now warn her about her clothing, veil, shoes, and even the way she walks. She believes her family does this out of concern, but it has completely changed the atmosphere at home.
The report also highlights the Taliban administration's rules controlling both women's and men's bodies. It states that the "Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice" law, which came into effect in May 2024, consists of 35 articles, with the main enforcement force being "muhtehis" operating in all provinces.
Article 13 mandates that a woman’s entire body must be covered, and covering the face is deemed necessary due to fear of "fitna" (temptation). The same article also states that a woman's voice is considered "awrah" (something to be concealed).
The legislation does not target only women. Article 14 imposes rules on men regarding beards, hair, knees, and clothing; shaving beards and hairstyles contrary to Sharia are prohibited, and visible knees can be subject to investigation. Friendships with non-Muslims, wearing ties, and cross symbols are also banned.
At Kabul University this year, a 14-article pledge was distributed requiring students to grow beards, avoid haircuts, wear head coverings, and dress in "Sharia and Afghan clothing." Some of these articles directly regulate body and appearance.
The Taliban Information and Culture Directorate in Herat cited women's clothing as the main reason for recent detentions, describing the body as a source of "fitna" in an official statement. The statement also noted that women's outings are limited to essential situations.
The report further emphasizes that since the Taliban's return to power in 2021, women have been largely excluded from public life. The human rights organization Ravadari reported that in 2025, Taliban officials arbitrarily detained at least 2,559 people, most linked to violations of clothing, beard, and general behavior rules.
Experts suggest this pressure is not merely a religious interpretation but represents political control over daily life, bodies, and appearances. The report explains that control based on women's clothing extends both inside families and into the public sphere.
