Doctors Without Borders condemns detention of Afghan health worker for dress code violations

Doctors Without Borders condemned the detention of an Afghan female health worker who was arrested for allegedly violating strict dress code rules imposed by the Taliban government. The health worker, who was employed at a children's ward, was stopped by officials from the Ministry for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice while traveling to a hospital in Herat. She was released after two days in custody. The incident highlights the ongoing restrictions faced by women in Afghanistan since the Taliban returned to power in 2021, including severe limitations on women's employment, education, and freedom of movement. The Taliban's morality police regularly enforce strict dress codes requiring women to cover themselves completely in public, and violations can result in detention and punishment.