Overview
- Four men from Jebrael in Herat gained attention online for videos showing them in suits and flat caps modeled on the TV series Peaky Blinders.
- The Taliban’s Ministry for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice said the men were summoned, advised and released after being told their attire conflicted with Afghan and Islamic values.
- Spokesman Saif-ur-Islam Khyber described the process as a rehabilitation program and argued the clothing had no Afghan identity and imitated foreign film actors.
- The ministry released an audio recording attributed to one participant pledging to stop such activity, while friends of the group contend the men remain imprisoned.
- The episode was reported alongside other recent vice-ministry actions, including the detention of two street magicians in Balkh over alleged activities deemed contrary to sharia.