Reporter: Mahya Omid
Following the Taliban’s order mandating the wearing of the chador and the start of arrests of women in Herat the presence of women in public spaces across the city has declined sharply, while local markets have been hit by an unprecedented downturn. Shopkeepers say their sales have dropped significantly over the past two weeks. According to Herat residents, fear of arrest and encounters with Taliban forces has noticeably altered both daily life and the city’s public atmosphere.
Mihran, a salesperson at« Qasr-e Herat» says the market has changed in ways that have been unprecedented for him and many other business owners over the past two weeks. According to him, before the wave of arrests began women made up the majority of customers at the shopping center. Now however, many vendors spend long hours without a single customer.
He says:« The market used to come alive around nine or ten in the morning. Most of our customers were women and the flow of shoppers continued until evening. Now, hours go by without a single person entering the shop. Some days we just sit and look at each other. The market is no longer what it used to be.»
According to Mihran, his concerns go beyond the market downturn. The daily arrests of women have created a climate of fear that has left him unable to feel at ease even in his own home.
He says:« I no longer allow the women in my family to leave the house. If anything is needed, I go and get it myself. This situation is not something to be taken lightly. Like everyone else, I am concerned about the women who have been detained. What worries me most is that this could become the new normal and that more women will be arrested every day, even if they are wearing the chador.»
Mihran says that, alongside these concerns the future of his business has become increasingly uncertain. The continuation of this situation has also left many shopkeepers facing growing economic worries.
He says:« If this situation continues for another month or two, I don’t know what will happen. When there is no buying and selling even paying the shop rent at the end of the month becomes difficult. I may have to close the shop and look for another job. For many of us this shop is the only way to provide for our families.»
Meanwhile, Omar a vendor at« Amin Market» says the decline in the presence of women has dealt a heavy blow to the market.
He says:« Our business thrived because of women customers. We used to serve around a hundred customers a day but now almost no women come to shop. This situation has dealt a major blow to our business.»
Omar says that a scene he witnessed in the market one day after the arrests began still remains vividly etched in his memory.
He says:« On Saturday, Taliban members entered the market and took women who were wearing manteaus into vehicles without offering any explanation. All the shopkeepers could do was watch. No one dared to speak up or do anything.»
According to him, the women who were detained were fully covered, and many of them were also wearing face masks.
Meanwhile, a number of Herat residents say the change has not been confined to the markets, in recent days the city’s streets have taken on a noticeably different character as well.
Maryam, a 26-year-old resident of Herat, says:« Going outside is a woman’s right, but that right has effectively been taken away. A few days ago when I went out, the city was almost devoid of women. Along the way I saw only one or two women, fully covered and wearing chadors and face masks.»
According to her, restrictions had existed before as well but women were still able to move freely around the city and daily life continued.
She continues:« The Taliban have taken away our rights one by one. How can it be acceptable that we are detained simply for going outside?»
The situation has continued to heighten concerns among families and has led many of them to make more cautious decisions regarding their daughters’ movements.
Asma, 22, says that restrictions at home have also increased and her family out of fear no longer allows her to leave the house.
She says:« My cousin’s gathering is in two days but my family did not allow me to go to the market to buy clothes. My father said: Spare us the worry. My brother is completely against me going out and keeps saying, What will we do if you go out and get detained?»
Following a Taliban order in Herat calling for the detention of women without a chador and without full face covering, issued on (6 June 2026) reports indicate that the practice is still continuing in different parts of the city. According to residents, nearly two weeks after the implementation of the order the situation of the detained women and details about their fate remain unclear to their families.
Meanwhile, Najibullah Ali head of security at the Taliban police command in Herat, has said that the process of detaining women in the province will continue. He also confirmed that more than 19 women have so far been detained for what he described as« not observing the Taliban’s interpretation of hijab» although local sources say the actual number of detainees is higher than this figure.
Photo credited: Internet
