Two killed in rare street demonstration over women’s rights in Afghanistan

Taliban forces fire on crowds in Herat, who were protesting at manhandling of women arrested over hijab dress code

A Taliban crackdown on women’s dress code in Afghanistan has escalated into a rare mass street protest in the western province of Herat, with at least two people killed by security forces.

Officials made a wave of arrests in recent days targeting women and young girls accused of “improper hijab”. Residents say many families had received no information about the whereabouts or condition of those detained.