Such radicalism nearly cost the lives of 174 passengers on the FlyDubai flight a few days ago.
Mumbai, 11 October 2026: The Harmony Foundation has strongly condemned the Taliban authorities in Afghanistan for arresting and detaining women over alleged dress code violations and for appearing in public without a male guardian. The foundation has called on the international community to take decisive action against religious radicalism and the systematic denial of women’s rights.
According to a statement by the United Nations, at least 52 women and one girl were arrested or detained in Herat and Kabul between July and September 2026. The UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan reported that the detentions were linked to women not wearing a chador, having visible hair, wearing colourful scarves or makeup, or appearing in public without a mahram, or male guardian. The mission also warned that the actual number of cases could be higher due to underreporting.
The detentions have raised serious concerns about women’s freedom of movement, expression and personal autonomy. The situation has also exposed women to social stigma and restrictions on their participation in public life. The press release further refers to a protest in Herat in June, during which Afghan authorities allegedly opened fire, killing at least one person and injuring several others.
Dr. Abraham Mathai, Founder Chairman of the Harmony Foundation and former Vice Chairman of the Maharashtra State Minorities Commission, expressed deep concern over the developments, drawing a comparison with the reported Flydubai flight incident mentioned in the foundation’s statement.
“This is the ugly face of religious radicalism. It is the same poison that we witnessed on the Flydubai flight, where a co-pilot, driven by hateful ideology, attempted to crash a plane and kill 174 innocent people. Captain Smit Machchhar, despite being seriously injured, fought back and saved those lives. That was the triumph of humanity over radicalism. But in Afghanistan, radicalism is not being fought; it is being enforced by the state itself,” Dr. Mathai said.
He further highlighted the international legal proceedings concerning the Taliban’s treatment of women and girls, stating that the International Criminal Court had issued arrest warrants for senior Taliban officials over alleged crimes involving the systematic deprivation of their rights.
“The Taliban’s treatment of women is a crime against humanity. It is high time that the world speaks against this radicalism in one voice,” he added.
Dr. Mathai urged the United Nations, the International Criminal Court and governments committed to human dignity to take concrete steps, including diplomatic pressure and sanctions, to hold the Taliban accountable.
“The world cannot remain silent while women are arrested for showing their hair, for wearing colourful scarves, for stepping outside without a man. This is not culture. This is not religion. This is radicalism, and it must be fought with the same resolve that Captain Smit showed when he faced death and chose to save lives. We call upon the United Nations, the International Criminal Court, and all nations that stand for human dignity to act decisively,” he said.
The Harmony Foundation reaffirmed its commitment to supporting women facing persecution in Afghanistan and emphasised that lasting peace and harmony depend on protecting the rights and dignity of every individual, regardless of gender.
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