The Islamic Emirate’s spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid reacted to the UN Assistant Mission in Afghanistan’s (UNAMA) statement regarding the arrest of women in Kabul and Daikundi.

On Thursday, UNAMA said in a statement that it “is deeply concerned over recent arbitrary arrests and detentions of women and girls by Afghanistan’s de facto authorities because of alleged non-compliance with the Islamic dress code.”

According to the statement, since 1 January, in Kabul and Daykundi provinces, UNAMA has documented a series of hijab decree enforcement campaigns by the de facto Ministry for the Propagation of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice and the de facto police. 
“In the capital Kabul, large numbers of women and girls have been warned and detained. In Nili City of Daykundi province, women and girls have also been detained,” the statement said.

Mujahid said that UNAMA’s concerns regarding the mistreatment of women because of not observing hijab are not correct.

“The Afghan women are observing the hijab themselves. There is no need for forceful actions. The [Ministry of Vice and Virtue] has also not used force against anyone. The propaganda in this regard is not true,” he said.

Meanwhile, UANAMA said that it is looking into allegations of “ill-treatment and incommunicado detention, and that religious and ethnic minority communities appear to be disproportionately impacted by the enforcement operations.”

According to UNAMA, to secure release, “a mahram, or male guardian, has been required to sign a letter guaranteeing future compliance or else face punishment.

The statement quoted head of the UNAMA Roza Otunbayeva:“Enforcement measures involving physical violence are especially demeaning and dangerous for Afghan women and girls.”

“Detentions carry an enormous stigma that put Afghan women at even greater risk. They also destroy public trust,” she said.

The statement said that UNAMA has discussed these issues with the de facto authorities, including the de facto Ministry for the Propagation of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice, and calls for the immediate release of those detained.