HERAT — Taliban security forces opened fire on protesters in Herat, resulting in at least two fatalities and more than 20 injuries. The protests called for "Work, Education, and Freedom."

According to independent experts, "Taliban security forces allegedly opened fire on protesters – men, women and children – administering beatings to some." Human Rights Watch reported that an 11-year-old boy was among those killed. "When the shooting began, people started to escape, and I saw the Taliban shooting toward those attempting to flee," a witness said. "I saw the 11-year-old who had been killed."

Taliban forces conducted house-to-house and hospital-to-hospital searches for wounded protesters after suppressing the demonstrations. "I witnessed some people getting injured," a witness said. "The Taliban even went to the streets and beat children to send them home."

Prior to these protests, Taliban authorities in Herat arrested at least 30 women for allegedly violating government-imposed dress rules. Médecins Sans Frontières confirmed that one of its staff members was detained for two days in early June. This staff member was stopped by representatives of the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice Ministry while en route to Herat Regional hospital. She was detained on allegations of not complying with the Taliban's dress code for women.

The Médecins Sans Frontières staff member was released on June 8. Upon her release, she, her husband, and her family signed a commitment to wear clothes selected by the ministry. Under Taliban morality law, a woman's face is considered awrah, requiring women to wear clothing that fully covers their faces. The Taliban denied reports of mass human rights violations.