SECURITY — June 12, 2026
EU Envoy Describes Taliban Crackdown on Herat Protests as 'Very Serious'
Gilles Bertrand said the European Union has condemned the violence both publicly and privately, while the United Nations confirmed the detention of at least 30 women and the death of a teenage boy during protests.
The Ehtebar Desk — originates with Amu TV — 2 min read
The European Union's special envoy for Afghanistan, Gilles Bertrand, has described the recent events in Herat as very serious. These events include the arrest of dozens of women for not observing the prescribed dress code and the crackdown on protests that followed.
Bertrand said the European Union has strongly condemned the violence and repression. The condemnation was conveyed to the Taliban through both public and private channels.
The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan, known as UNAMA, confirmed that at least 30 women were detained on June 6 and 7. The arrests were made by the morality police and Taliban police in Herat.
The detentions prompted protests on June 9 in the Jabrail area of Herat. During those protests, at least one teenage boy was killed by gunfire, and several others were injured. UNAMA is investigating a possible second fatality in the incident.
Bertrand reaffirmed that the European Union's position on women's rights in Afghanistan has remained unchanged since the Taliban's return to power in 2021. The European Union continues to support programs for women's entrepreneurship and girls' education in the country.
Read the original reporting at Amu TV →
Reliability assessment
Single source provides direct on-record quotes and attribution from named EU envoy Gilles Bertrand along with specific UNAMA confirmations including dates, locations, and casualty details
The source language mixes facts with framing or advocacy wording. Amu TV: "very serious", "violence and repression", "strongly condemn this trend" — these phrases frame the Taliban's actions with explicit moral judgment and emotional weight rather than neutral reporting.
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Amu TV
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Security — Herat, Taliban, Gilles Bertrand, UNAMA, women's rights
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