KABUL: The Taliban have intensified regulations on barbers across several Afghan provinces, creating significant pressure on their daily work and livelihoods, according to reports. AFP reported that the Ministry for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice recently mandated that all men maintain at least a half-length beard. Minister Khalid Hanafi said the measure aims to encourage compliance with Islamic law. In Ghazni province, one barber was reportedly imprisoned overnight in the cold and for two additional nights in a container for styling Western haircuts. UN reports indicate that last year in Kunar province, three barbers were sentenced to three and five months in prison for violating the ministry’s regulations. Barbers in Kabul say that ministry patrols inspect workshops daily, criticizing haircuts and beard styles. Many have cut back on their business, and clients are avoiding shorter beard styles. Observers note that the new restrictions not only limit economic freedoms and workers’ rights but also place significant psychological pressure on barbers.
- Advertisment -
