Richard Bennett
Coverage of Richard Bennett in the Nexus archive.
- Afghanistan: Taliban open fire during protest over arrests of women for dress code violation
Afghan Taliban authorities opened fire on a protest in Herat against the arrest of women for dress code violations, injuring at least three people. The protest, rare under Taliban rule, opposed strict Islamic dress regulations enforced by the Ministry for the Propagation of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice. The Taliban denied reports of arrests, calling them 'rumors,' while UN and human rights groups condemned the violence.
- Afghanistan: Taliban open fire during protest over arrests of women for dress code violation
Afghan authorities in Herat opened fire on a protest against the arrest of women for dress code violations, injuring at least three people. The Taliban enforces strict Islamic dress rules for women, including full hijab and face coverings, policed by the Ministry for the Propagation of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice. The UN and Human Rights Watch condemned the use of force and called for accountability.
- I Was Afghanistan’s Attorney General. Here Is What Justice Looked Like — and What Destroyed It.
The article details the progress made in integrating women into Afghanistan's justice system under the author's tenure as Attorney General (2016-2021), including a rise in female prosecutors from 3% to 23%. However, the Taliban's 2021 takeover dismantled these reforms, releasing convicted abusers and silencing women's legal advancements.