Taliban have made it mandatory for male medical students in the southeastern province of Khost to wear turbans, according to several local sources familiar with the matter.
The Taliban morality enforcers from their Ministry for the Propagation of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice (PVPV) in Khost have warned students that they will not be permitted to enter university campuses unless they are wearing turbans, also known as “dastars,” sources told Amu.
The directive, issued last week, came after a representative from the ministry visited a university in Khost and ordered classroom doors shut as a form of enforcement, sources added. According to the sources, students have also been instructed to wear white traditional garments — a long shirt and trousers — to resemble the ministry’s own enforcers.
Taliban have not issued any public comment regarding the new directive, and university officials have remained silent.
This latest report follows a growing pattern of restrictions imposed by Taliban on university students across the country. Last week, students at Sheikh Zayed University in Khost were reportedly forced to attend a mosque seminar during regular class hours. The event focused on the importance of growing beards and the perceived dangers of political parties — part of the Taliban’s broader ideological messaging campaign.
Since returning to power in August 2021, the Taliban have reimposed strict social codes reminiscent of their previous regime in the 1990s, with heavy emphasis on dress, appearance, and gender roles. While women have been barred from attending universities and most secondary schools, male students have also faced increasing ideological controls in educational settings.
