Dhaka, Oct. 9 -- Dozens of Afghan women have reportedly been detained for a stray strand of hair, a bright scarf or walking out without a male guardian.

The UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) has verified that at least 52 women and one girl were arrested or detained in Herat and Kabul between July and September.

Other women were threatened with arrest, UNAMA said in a statement, reported by UN News, the world body's news service.

The true number could be far higher because fear and stigma stop many cases from being reported, it added.

The Taliban have severely restricted women's and girls' rights since seizing power in 2021, keeping them out of secondary education, jobs and public life.

The recent arrests were linked to all...