At least two people, including a woman and a child, were reportedly killed when Taliban forces opened fire on demonstrators in Herat, western Afghanistan, during a rare public protest. The gathering was organised in response to the reported detention of women and girls accused of violating the Taliban’s strict dress code. Witnesses, medical sources and videos shared on social media suggest that security forces used live ammunition and physical force to disperse the crowd, while more than a dozen people were reportedly injured. Officials denied that civilians had been harmed by police gunfire and said security personnel were maintaining public order. The protest highlights growing concern over restrictions placed on Afghan women and girls, including limits on education, employment, movement and participation in public life. UN representatives have expressed alarm at both the detentions and the reported use of force against protesters, calling for respect for fundamental freedoms and accountability for any violence committed.