- Over 50% of morality arrests target non-compliant hairstyles and barbers
- Mandatory mosque attendance enforced through Ramadan detentions
- Small businesses face 40% income drops under grooming regulations
- Annual economic losses surpass $1 billion due to workforce bans
- 3,300 inspectors enforce morality laws nationwide
Six months after implementing strict behavioral codes, Taliban authorities have detained hundreds of Afghan men for violating grooming standards and prayer obligations. A UN report documents widespread arbitrary arrests by the Ministry of Vice and Virtue, with particular focus on urban barbershops and mosque attendance records during Ramadan.
Kabul barbers report escalating harassment from morality police, with 72 shops closed in the capital last quarter. Underground grooming services have emerged in response, creating new security risks for entrepreneurs. Youth unemployment has risen 18% since August as traditional apprenticeship systems collapse under religious enforcement.
The UN mission identified disturbing economic ripple effects, with wedding-related businesses suffering 65% revenue declines. Regional disparities show rural areas experiencing 30% fewer arrests but 50% greater income loss, suggesting varied enforcement priorities. A World Bank assessment links workforce restrictions to estimated annual economic losses exceeding $1 billion.
During Ramadan 2024, authorities installed biometric check-in systems at major mosques in Herat and Kandahar. Men missing three consecutive prayers faced 48-hour detentions. Religious police expanded surveillance to include social media profiles, arresting 140 youths for 'immodest selfies' in March alone.
International observers warn the laws create parallel crises: While urban centers face cultural suppression, rural communities suffer from dissolved informal economies. The Taliban's 3,300-strong morality force now exceeds Afghanistan's pre-2021 tourism police numbers by 400%, diverting resources from essential services.
Hibatullah Akhundzada's Eid message defended the policies as necessary for creating 'a corruption-free Islamic society.' However, leaked ministry documents reveal internal concerns about rising male emigration rates, with 22,000 passport applications processed daily at Kabul's main office.
