Religious Scholars in Herat Call for Unity and Peaceful Resolution of Tensions

Religious scholars, elders, and a number of youth representatives convened in Herat to publicly affirm their backing of the Islamic Emirate. In their statements, they placed strong emphasis on the preservation of unity among different segments of society as well as the maintenance of security conditions in the region.

The group advocated for any disputes or tensions to be settled exclusively through peaceful means and open dialogue. They expressed opposition to protests as a method for addressing grievances, especially those stemming from the introduction of new restrictions on hijab.

Protests involving young people occurred in Herat's 13th district in response to the new Islamic hijab restrictions. Security personnel from the police successfully managed the gathering, preventing any escalation into violent confrontations.

According to statements from the Herat security command, the city is experiencing a period of calm with no violent incidents having taken place. Security forces continue to be deployed in key locations. The command also addressed the issue of social media content, noting that several videos purporting to show events related to the protests have been found to be manipulated through the use of artificial intelligence.

Scholars present at the event proposed that the concerns of the younger generation should be relayed to officials by means of respected elders. They further recommended that enforcers associated with the Ministry of Virtue and Vice prioritize counseling and advisory approaches over the application of stringent measures in matters concerning hijab compliance.

The overall message from the gathering was one of support for stability and constructive engagement.