The Taliban have banned hairdressers in Afghanistan's Helmand province from shaving or trimming beards, in a move that signals a return to their strict interpretation of Islamic law. A notice posted in salons warned that any barber violating the rule would be punished by the group's religious police.
Similar orders have reportedly been issued in Kabul, where barbers said they received calls from Taliban officials instructing them to stop following American styles and to refrain from shaving or trimming beards. Barbers expressed fear of undercover inspectors being sent to catch them.
The ban echoes the hardline policies of the Taliban's previous rule from 1996 to 2001, when men were forced to grow beards. Since then, clean-shaven looks and fashionable cuts had become popular, but barbers now say the new rules are destroying their businesses.
One barber in Kabul said: 'For many years my salon was somewhere for young people to shave as their wish and look trendy. There is no point continuing this business.' Another described barbering as a 'forbidden business' after 15 years in the trade.
In Herat, a barber reported that customers are avoiding beard trims for fear of Taliban fighters, and his business has dried up despite slashing prices. 'Nobody cares about their style or hair fashion,' he said.
