Several women beauticians in Kabul claim that some Taliban security personnel have treated them disrespectfully and made proposals they described as “immoral.”
The women told Amu TV that these men contacted them with inappropriate requests for “personal, immoral meetings.” In some cases, when Taliban officials raided secret salons, the callers verbally accused them of “immorality.” Many opted to remain anonymous for safety reasons; their voices were disguised, and identities withheld in this report.
One beautician recounted, “I was in touch via WhatsApp with the district commander… he used to send romantic stickers. One day, when I went to pay money so my salon wouldn’t be shut down, he gave me strange looks. Once I returned home, he called and made some immoral suggestions. He said if I accepted, I would no longer need to pay the district. After that, I closed my salon and relocated elsewhere.”
Another said, “The Taliban make very inappropriate requests. They look at us like we’re [expletive]. They say that if you need money, close your salon—we will help you. We are not from families who would agree to such discussions. We want to work and support ourselves with dignity.”
The Taliban’s Ministry for the Propagation of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice and the Taliban’s Kabul police were contacted for comment but did not respond before publication.
Additionally, women who visited hidden beauty parlors report that during inspections carried out by vice policing agents, they were insultingly branded as “immoral.”
Earlier this week, insiders told Amu TV that in recent days, Taliban members raided several covert women’s salons, briefly detained some beauticians and confiscated salon equipment. They were released hours later.
Several beauticians said some Taliban security districts had been charging them monthly fees ranging from 10,000 to 100,000 afghanis to allow them to operate. Despite paying, these women were still subjected to detentions by vice police.
In 2023, the Taliban ordered the complete closure of women’s beauty salons across Afghanistan, citing violations of Islamic law. The ban forced many into secret operations amid fears of detention.
The combination of strict gender restrictions and economic hardship has pushed many women into hiding to sustain themselves—often at great personal risk.
