When a Woman Raised Her Voice for Her Rights

When I heard about what happened in Herat’s Jebreel area, my heart sank. Those women who simply wanted to raise their voices were arrested. In Herat, security forces carried out crackdowns and mass arrests following protests against enforced hijab mandates — this will remain a lasting scar.

I understand that every country has its own laws. But is it right to use force against a woman for how she dresses? UN experts say that at least two people were killed and 20 others injured in this protest. If that’s true, this is deeply serious.

Herat’s religious scholars are urging people to exercise restraint and avoid violence. I agree with them to some extent. But patience does not mean accepting oppression. Reports from BBC Pashto show that this issue is not just about Herat — it reflects the pain of the entire Afghanistan.

What we need right now is dialogue, not violence. Both sides must come to the table and talk. Because when women are silenced, a whole society loses its voice. Read more on this in my latest article.