Taliban orders all male government employees to grow beards

The Taliban have mandated that all male government employees in Afghanistan grow beards and wear traditional clothing, the latest attack on personal freedoms by the ruling Islamic fundamentalists.

Sources told Reuters that representatives of the Ministry for the Propagation of Virtue and Prevention of Vice were patrolling the entrances of government buildings on Monday for compliance, barring any who did not meet the requirements.

The employees were told not to shave and wear local clothing – a long, loose tunic, trousers and hat or turban – or risk being fired.

All staff were also instructed to pray at the correct times. Muslims are obligated to pray five times every day toward Mecca, their holy city – at sunrise, noon, afternoon, sunset and dusk.

The Taliban seized control of Afghanistan after the chaotic withdrawal of U.S. troops last year, renewing fears of a return to their previous reign in the 90s where women were barred from attending school and most entertainment and sports were banned.

The Islamist fundamentalists claimed to have changed in an attempt to get international sanctions lifted, announcing that girls would be allowed to return to school. They reversed the decision at the last minute, causing the U.S. to pull out of planned talks with Taliban officials on economic issues.

The ruling Taliban have also barred women from flights and announced that parks will be gender segregated, meaning families can no longer picnic together.

One expert told The Times of London that the Taliban were now “officially a gender apartheid authoritarian police state... the regime, while a de facto reality...merits no recognition and legitimacy.”