Urgent Appeal Concerning the Violent Suppression of Women’s Peaceful Protests in Herat
T.a.o: Cabinet of His Excellency Mr. Josep Borrell-Fontelles head of EU External Action Services (EEAS)
Subject: Urgent Appeal Concerning the Violent Suppression of Women’s Peaceful Protests in Herat, Afghanistan
Reference: FAROE2026A007
Heerlen, 12 Jun 2026
His Excellency Dear Mr. Josep Borrell-Fontelles head of EU External Action Services,
Dear Mr. Josep Borrell-Fontelles,
On behalf of the Federation of Afghan Resident Organizations in Europe (FAROE), we wish to express our profound concern regarding recent reports from Herat, Afghanistan, indicating that Taliban authorities have violently suppressed peaceful protests organized by Afghan women and girls.
These protests were triggered by the announcement and enforcement of new Taliban directives requiring women to observe a strict dress code, including full body covering (niqab and other forms of full veiling), while simultaneously banning the use of common forms of clothing such as coats (mantos) and traditional or modern forms of the chador. These restrictions represent a further tightening of already severe limitations on women’s rights and freedoms, and they prompted women in Herat to take to the streets in peaceful protest, demanding respect for their fundamental rights and freedom of choice in dress.
According to credible reports, women exercising their fundamental rights to peaceful assembly and freedom of expression were met with force by Taliban security forces. Several protesters were reportedly injured, while others were arbitrarily arrested and taken into custody at undisclosed locations. These alarming incidents are part of a broader and systematic pattern of repression against Afghan women since the Taliban’s return to power.
Unfortunately, this is not an isolated development. Similar crackdowns on peaceful women-led demonstrations have repeatedly taken place in Kabul and other cities across Afghanistan. Women who have courageously raised their voices for education, employment, freedom of movement, and basic human dignity have been subjected to intimidation, detention, violence, and enforced silence.
The continued persecution of Afghan women represents one of the most serious human rights crises of our time. Taliban policies have effectively excluded women and girls from public life, deprived them of access to education and employment, severely restricted their freedom of movement, and stripped them of their most fundamental rights and liberties.
We are deeply concerned that the international response to these ongoing violations remains insufficient. Despite the extraordinary courage of Afghan women who continue to stand up for their rights under extremely dangerous conditions, many feel abandoned by the international community.
As an organization representing Afghan communities across Europe, FAROE respectfully urges the European Union and its Member States to:
1. Publicly and unequivocally condemn the violent suppression of peaceful women’s protests in Herat and throughout Afghanistan.
2. Demand the immediate and unconditional release of all women and activists detained solely for exercising their fundamental rights.
3. Hold the Taliban accountable for violations of international human rights standards and support international mechanisms for monitoring and documenting abuses.
4. Strengthen political, diplomatic, and humanitarian support for Afghan women, women’s rights defenders, and civil society organizations inside Afghanistan and in exile.
5. Ensure that the situation of Afghan women remains a central priority in all EU policies and discussions regarding Afghanistan.
6. Reaffirm the European Union’s commitment to defending the rights, dignity, and freedoms of Afghan women and girls, and reject any attempts to normalize or legitimize gender-based oppression.
The courageous women of Afghanistan are not demanding privilege; they are demanding the basic rights and freedoms guaranteed to every human being. Their voices deserve to be heard, protected, and supported.
At this critical moment, we call upon the European Union to stand firmly with the women of Afghanistan and to demonstrate through concrete action that human rights, justice, and equality remain at the core of European values.
We thank you for your attention to this urgent matter and look forward to your leadership and decisive action.
Yours sincerely,
Ali Daliry
Chairperson of FAROE
The Federation of Afghan Resident Organizations in Europe (FAROE)