From July to September, the [Taliban](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taliban)’s [morality police](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morality_police) detained more than 440 individuals in Afghanistan, including children, after accusing them of receiving ‘Western’ haircuts, trimming beards or breaching compulsory face‑covering rules for women, a [United Nations](https://www.un.org) investigation revealed.
**What prompted the arrests?**
The UN documented that the majority of the arrests stemmed from alleged violations of the Taliban’s strict regulations on men’s hair length, beard grooming, and women’s dress codes, particularly the requirement to cover the face.
**How many people were affected?**
The report recorded at least 443 arrests during the three‑month period, with two barbers held for a month in August for allegedly giving customers ‘Western’ haircuts and trimming beards.
**Were women also targeted?**
More than 50 cases involved women and young girls being arrested, detained or warned for purportedly failing to adhere to the mandated face‑covering standards.
**What does this indicate about enforcement?**
The findings suggest a heightened crackdown by the Taliban’s morality police on personal appearance and dress, reflecting the group’s broader effort to impose its interpretation of Islamic law across Afghan society.