The reestablishment of Taliban in Afghanistan has brought sweeping changes across the country, affecting every aspect of life, from education and employment to personal grooming.
A recent report by the United Nations has shed light on the increasingly intrusive role of the Taliban’s morality police, especially under the guidance of the Ministry for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice.
According to the report, a significant number of arrests were made simply because men had “non-compliant” hairstyles or beards, or because barbers gave haircuts not in line with the regime’s vision of Islamic conduct.
What makes this particularly alarming is not just the absurdity of punishing men for their hair or beards, but also the fact that barbers—many of whom are struggling to make a living—are now being criminalized for doing their jobs.
These arrests are only one element of a broader trend, as the Taliban continues to impose an increasingly rigid and controlling version of Islamic law, stifling both personal freedoms and economic survival in a nation already grappling with a severe humanitarian crisis.
The Rise of Morality Policing and Arbitrary Detentions
When the Ministry of Vice and Virtue reintroduced its code of conduct in August last year, the stated purpose was to “reform society.” These new laws cover nearly every element of daily life, including public transportation, music, personal grooming, and celebrations.
One of the most disturbing aspects of the law is how it has targeted men based on their physical appearance—most notably their hairstyle and beard length.
According to the UN mission in Afghanistan, more than half of the recorded detentions since the law came into effect involved either men who did not meet the prescribed grooming standards or the barbers who gave them those appearances. Detentions were often carried out without due process, legal protections, or even clear explanations, highlighting the arbitrary nature of the enforcement.
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Ramadan became an especially tense time for Afghan men. The morality police began actively monitoring whether men were attending congregational prayers, with reports emerging of people being detained simply for not showing up at the mosque.
This level of surveillance, backed by the threat of imprisonment, has created a climate of fear and anxiety in Afghan communities. What was once a deeply personal relationship between faith and individual has now become an arena for state enforcement.
Crackdowns Impacting Society and Economy Alike
The effects of the Taliban’s morality laws extend far beyond the emotional and psychological toll on individuals. The United Nations warns of significant socio-economic repercussions resulting from these restrictions. Small business owners—such as barbers, private educators, tailors, wedding caterers, and restaurant owners—are finding it increasingly difficult to operate.
Many have been forced to shut down, losing not just their income but also their identities and roles within their communities. The crackdown on grooming services has meant that barbers are now at risk every time they pick up a pair of scissors.
Providing a service once seen as basic and essential is now seen as a potential crime. Tailors have similarly suffered due to restrictions on what kinds of clothes can be worn or made, especially as the regime continues to enforce stringent dress codes for both men and women.
With a population already under severe economic strain, these policies only serve to worsen the outlook. The World Bank has estimated that the Taliban’s ban on women working and receiving education could cost Afghanistan more than $1.4 billion annually.
That figure does not even include the full economic implications of the morality police’s crackdown on small businesses operated by men. In effect, the Ministry’s actions are bleeding the country’s economy in the name of religious enforcement.
Taliban’s Justification and the Future of Afghan Society
Despite international outcry and growing evidence of socio-economic collapse, the Taliban leadership remains steadfast in its belief that these laws are essential for the spiritual and moral health of Afghanistan. Taliban leader Hibatullah Akhundzada has repeatedly emphasized that the role of the Vice and Virtue Ministry is vital in creating a society “free from corruption, misguided beliefs, harmful practices, and bad morals.”
In a message delivered before Eid al-Fitr, Akhundzada praised the morality police for their work in purifying Afghan society, stating that these laws are necessary to guide future generations.
He framed the laws not as tools of repression but as steps toward enlightenment. His rhetoric leaves little room for compromise or dialogue, and it suggests that the regime sees no reason to soften its stance in the face of international pressure or domestic suffering.
More than 3,300 inspectors are now deployed across Afghanistan to enforce these rules. According to the Ministry’s spokesman, Saif ur Rahman Khyber, these officials are not only responsible for ensuring adherence to Islamic principles but also for resolving complaints and defending women’s rights. This claim stands in sharp contrast to the reality described by the UN, where Afghan women have faced increasing restrictions on education, work, and visibility in public life.
While the Ministry claims to be upholding both Islamic and human rights, their actions tell a different story. By penalizing people for missing prayers, sporting certain hairstyles, or simply doing their jobs, the Taliban has turned daily life into a tightrope walk where even the smallest misstep could result in arrest or punishment.
A Nation in Crisis: Suppression Under the Guise of Morality
The Taliban’s continued imposition of strict morality laws is not just a cultural or religious matter; it is a national crisis that affects the very structure of Afghan society. The enforcement of these rules has gone far beyond personal piety and has instead become a mechanism of control. The fear of being watched, judged, and detained is eroding the social fabric, and the absence of legal protections leaves citizens with no recourse.
From barbers to teachers, and from students to shopkeepers, the reach of the morality police is suffocating livelihoods and dreams. Rather than fostering a morally upright society, the regime is creating one filled with resentment, fear, and economic despair.
As the international community grapples with how to engage the Taliban regime, the voices of ordinary Afghans continue to be silenced under a system that punishes difference and criminalizes individuality.
The arrest of a man and his barber over something as trivial as a haircut is not just an anecdote—it is a symbol of a deeper tragedy unfolding in Afghanistan. It reveals a government more concerned with conformity than compassion, more focused on appearances than prosperity.
And so, as each new law is enacted and each new arrest is made, Afghanistan drifts further from hope and deeper into a future shaped by control, suppression, and lost potential.