SOCIETY — April 2, 2026
Herat Residents Complain of Strict Behavior by Taliban Muhtasibs
Residents of Herat province, especially women and girls, complain of strict, insulting and harassing behavior by Taliban muhtasibs from Amr bil Ma'ruf and Nahi anil Munkar. Activists describe the actions as human rights violations and urge international oversight.
The Ehtebar Desk — originates with Hasht-e Subh — 2 min read
HERAT, Afghanistan -- Residents of Herat province, particularly women and girls, have complained about the strict, insulting and harassing behavior of Taliban muhtasibs from Amr bil Ma'ruf and Nahi anil Munkar.
Local residents described how the muhtasibs stop women and girls on various pretexts, leading to harassment and distress. Female drivers reported being treated improperly if they lack a 'chadarnamaz,' with muhtasibs attempting to contact their mahram or male family member.
This conduct has sparked public concern and fear in Herat city, forcing women and girls to alter their routes or avoid certain areas to evade encounters.
Women's rights activists have denounced these actions as violations of human rights and restrictions on freedoms. They have called for greater international monitoring of the Taliban.
Read the original reporting at Hasht-e Subh →
Reliability assessment
Single source with attribution to unnamed Herat residents, female drivers, and activists; concrete details on location (Herat) and specifics (muhtasbs of Amr bil Ma'ruf, chadarnamaz, mahram) but lacks independent corroboration, named sources, or on-record officials for the reported behaviors.
The source language mixes facts with framing or advocacy wording. Hasht-e Subh: "insulting" (describes behavior with negative emotional judgment); "harassment and distress" (implies abuse and suffering); "public concern and fear" (frames actions as causing widespread emotional impact). These mix reporting with mild advocacy phrasing.
Independent web corroboration
An independent web search turned up no separate corroborating reports. Treat the account as single-sourced until more outlets pick it up.
Across the newsrooms
Filed by
Hasht-e Subh
Originating
Framed
Framed
Filed under
Society — Herat, Taliban, Amr bil Ma'ruf, Nahi anil Munkar, women's rights
Spotted an error or have more on this story? Tip the desk on Telegram → or WhatsApp →.
Reader supported
Keep Ehtebar running
Every published story uses paid tools to translate reporting, compare sources, extract claims, and produce a clearer read on Afghanistan. Reader support helps keep that work independent.
€5
helps cover daily verification runs
€15
supports a week of source comparison
€50
keeps independent analysis moving
