Barbers in Afghanistan are facing severe punishment, including lengthy prison sentences, for offering beard trims or Western-style haircuts under the Taliban's radical interpretation of Islamic law.
Haircuts Deemed a Criminal Act
The regime has declared that offending hairdressers will be referred to its judicial authorities and could be jailed for up to 15 months. This represents a significant escalation, as beard removal was already illegal under the Taliban's 'Law on the Promotion of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice' but previously did not carry a custodial sentence.
Young men are also reportedly being subjected to beatings and public humiliation for defying strict cultural codes with their choice of hairstyle. Esmatullah, a resident of Balkh province, told The Telegraph that people are branded as agents of the former government for their appearance. 'The Taliban interrogate and beat people simply for how they look,' he said.
Businesses Forced Underground as Fear Spreads
The crackdown is devastating the livelihoods of barbers and stripping away personal freedoms. Many have seen a steep decline in business since the Taliban regained power in August 2021. Some barbers now conduct haircuts in clients' homes to avoid detection, while others have faced temporary detention, forcing their businesses to grind to a halt.
'If people are not allowed to shave their beards or cut their hair as per their choice, who will come to our shops?' asked another barber from Balkh. 'We live hand to mouth, and these edicts will leave us without enough food on our plates.'
Recent enforcement actions have been widespread:
- Last week, eight barbers in Parwan province were detained for shaving or styling beards. Their shops were closed and their families told they would be held for a month.
- On Friday, male barbers in Balkh province were summoned by Taliban officials to be warned about the ongoing crackdown.
A Broader Pattern of Brutal Punishments
This harassment of barbers is part of a wider campaign by the Taliban to tighten its grip on Afghan society through fear and brutal corporal punishment. Official data from the regime's own Supreme Court reveals a sharp rise in severe punishments during 2025.
The court ordered dozens of people to be stoned to death and four convicts to be executed by having walls collapsed onto them. Furthermore, the group publicly flogged more than 1,000 people across Afghanistan, including at least 150 women, with Kabul recording the highest number of cases.
The suppression extends beyond personal grooming. This week, Taliban enforcers:
- Detained at least 25 people in Takhar province for playing music at a private gathering.
- Seized and burned 86 musical instruments in Jalalabad city, Nangarhar province, to prevent what they label 'immoral practices'.
The Taliban governor's office stated these measures are to enforce Islamic law and warned that similar actions would continue, signalling no respite in the regime's campaign to control every aspect of daily life.
