Taliban Ministry of Vice and Virtue Spokesman Describes Hijab as National Sovereignty Issue

A spokesman for the Taliban Ministry of Vice and Virtue called the hijab a matter of national sovereignty and the identity of the Afghan people. In his remarks, he emphasized that Afghanistan has the right to implement its own system rooted in the country's cultural and religious values. He pointed to examples from other nations, noting that France operates under a secular system while the United States follows its established legal system.

The comments were made following a series of arrests in the western province of Herat. Taliban forces detained at least 30 women in the first week of June. The detentions were carried out because the women did not comply with the mandated hijab requirements.

Protests broke out in Herat in reaction to the arrests. The demonstrations were met with a forceful response that included the use of gunfire. The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan reported one fatality resulting from the suppression of the protests.

The situation has prompted strong reactions from women's rights groups around the world. Activists have described the Taliban policy as a form of gender apartheid. They argue that the measures are designed to exclude women from participating in public life. In addition to the events in Afghanistan, protests have been organized in several countries including the United States, Germany, and Spain to express opposition to the arrests and the broader enforcement approach.