At least two people, including a child, were killed in Herat, Afghanistan, during a protest that erupted after a new wave of arrests of women accused of violating hijab rules, according to The Guardian.

Dozens of demonstrators took to the streets demanding an end to arbitrary detentions. Witnesses reported that Taliban security forces opened fire on the crowd and later deployed special units to disperse the protest.

Local sources confirmed two deaths, with three others wounded and at least 13 people beaten and detained. UN Special Rapporteur on human rights in Afghanistan, Richard Bennett, condemned the excessive use of force and called for accountability.

Taliban officials denied the arrests, calling the reports “baseless” and claiming they were merely explaining Islamic dress codes.

The incident comes amid growing international criticism of the Taliban's human rights record, including the recent legalization of marriage for nine-year-old girls.

Source: podrobno.uz