KANDAHAR — At least 140 men were arrested by the Taliban in Kandahar over the past two days for shaving their beards, including 14 barbers and other civilians, local sources said.
The arrests were carried out by the Taliban morality enforcers, sources said, adding that detainees were forcibly taken into custody and transported to Sarpoza Prison, Kandahar’s main detention facility.
Many of those arrested were held for more than 24 hours before being released, according to individuals familiar with the situation. One of the detainees, identified as Abdul Rahman, told Amu TV he was mistreated while in custody.
“They pulled my hair and humiliated me for shaving,” he said. “There was no proper place to sleep, and food was insufficient.”
In a similar campaign, several individuals were also detained on Monday in Herat city at locations including Charsou Market, Chawk Madad, Eid Gah Gate, and Chawk Ahmad Wali Khan.
Sources say the Taliban’s vice police are preparing to expand the scope of these detentions, targeting individuals who not only shave their beards but also those who fail to attend communal prayers.
Taliban have not issued an official statement regarding the arrests.
Since returning to power in 2021, Taliban have reimposed strict interpretations of Islamic law, including enforcement of dress codes and religious observance. Rights groups have repeatedly criticized the group’s treatment of civilians and enforcement tactics, particularly targeting personal appearance and behavior.
