The authorities of Afghanistan under Taliban rule have intensified repression in the service sector.
Barbers who shave men's beards are now subject to criminal liability: they face imprisonment for up to 15 months, reports the Daily Mail.
Although beard removal was previously prohibited by the "Law on Promoting Virtue and Preventing Vice," until recently, violations were only punished with warnings or short-term detentions. Now, masters are being taken to court, and barbershops are being shut down. Clients are also under pressure: young men with "Western" haircuts or shaved temples are stopped, humiliated, interrogated, and beaten in the streets, sometimes forcibly having their hair cut off.
Fearing reprisals, many barbers are forced to stop working or go underground, serving clients at home. Some fear accusations of connections with the former authorities, which in the current conditions could lead to serious consequences.
Against the backdrop of bans on appearance, other repressive measures are also intensifying in the country. According to the Taliban Supreme Court, in 2025, more than a thousand people were subjected to public floggings, and there were also documented cases of executions, including stoning and wall demolitions on the convicted.
In several provinces, raids against "immoral behavior" continue: people are detained for listening to music, and musical instruments are confiscated and publicly burned. The residents of Afghanistan themselves note that such measures not only deprive them of basic freedoms but also strip them of sources of income, pushing more families beyond the poverty line.
