Dozens gathered in the city of Herat in Afghanistan on June 9 to protest the wave of arbitrary arrests targeting women and girls for allegedly violating the Taliban’s discriminatory dress code. The Taliban responded to the protests, which were in a predominantly Hazara minority neighborhood, by firing shots and beating protesters. Medics have reported that at least two people were killed and several more injured. The UN has confirmed that an 11-year-old boy was fatally shot and said it is verifying reports of a second fatality. Protesters chanted slogans such as “Education, work, and freedom,” referring to the Taliban’s sweeping restrictions that bar women and girls from education, most employment, and many other fundamental rights and freedoms. Residents say Taliban forces are carrying out door-to-door raids across Herat to identify and arrest protesters seen in demonstration videos. Others describe an atmosphere of heavy security in Herat, with checkpoints reportedly establish...