KABUL: The Taliban’s Morality Ministry has dismissed more than 280 members of the security force for failure to grow a beard and have detained more than 13,000 people in Afghanistan for “immoral acts” over the past year, officials said on Tuesday.
The Taliban’s Ministry for the Prevention of Vice and Propagation of Virtue, tasked with enforcing strict moral codes in Afghanistan, in its annual report provided an update on the ministry’s operations.
During a press conference, Mohibullah Mokhlis, Director of Planning and Legislation at the Morality Ministry stated that approximately half of those detained had been released within 24 hours. The ministry’s report did not specify the types of offences or the genders of the detainees.
In its annual operations update, the Morality Ministry also highlighted several other actions. The ministry reported the destruction of 21,328 musical instruments and the prevention of thousands of computer operators from selling what it deemed “immoral and unethical” films. These measures align with the Taliban’s interpretation of Islamic law, which they enforce rigorously.
The ministry’s crackdown on beard requirements reflects its stringent application of Islamic principles. Mokhlis explained that the 281 security personnel were dismissed because their appearance did not meet the Taliban’s religious standards.
Human rights organizations and the United Nations have criticized the Taliban’s morality ministry for its restrictive measures on women and limitations on freedom of expression. Reports have emerged of morality officials detaining women for not adhering to the Taliban’s strict dress code, including cases where women were held for a few hours for not complying with their interpretation of Islamic attire.
The Taliban has dismissed these allegations as “baseless,” asserting that their rules are based on their interpretation of Islamic law and Afghan customs. The morality ministry has yet to provide specific figures regarding the enforcement of dress codes for women or restrictions on their travel without male guardians.
Mokhlis announced that a new plan is being developed to ensure compliance with the Islamic dress code for women, with oversight from the supreme spiritual leader based in Kandahar. The draft plan reportedly mandates that women cover their faces or wear a burqa, with enforcement expected to involve targeting male family members rather than women directly.
The ministry has reported intervening in cases related to the sale of women and violence against women. Mokhlis stated that they had prevented just over 200 cases of the sale of women and more than 2,600 cases of violence against women.
