KABUL, AFGHANISTAN – After banning tight trousers for women, the Taliban have now also prohibited the wearing of loose trousers for men.
In recent days in Badakhshan located in northeastern Afghanistan, the Taliban have taken loose trousers from young men and burned them.
Mullah Jalil Siddiqi, a criminal officer of the Taliban security command in Badakhshan, said in a video clip that he burned the trousers of young men because of their loose fit.
In the video clip, it is shown that Taliban members publicly removed trousers from young men and set them on fire, while warning others against wearing similar clothing. The footage also appears to show an official enforcing dress-code rules on the streets, using intimidation as a means of implementation.
He warns young people not to wear loose and long trousers that reach the ankles.
The length and size of citizens’ trousers has become one of the concerns and governance priorities of the Taliban.
In 2024, the Taliban, under the Law on Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice, had already banned women from wearing certain clothing, especially tight trousers.
After the Taliban returned to power in August 2021, they gradually imposed strict social and personal appearance regulations across Afghanistan. One of the earliest enforcement measures required men in public institutions, including teachers, civil servants, and students, to grow beards and wear traditional clothing such as turbans or caps.
These rules were enforced by the Ministry for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice, which conducted regular inspections in workplaces, schools, and public spaces. In many areas, men were warned or punished for failing to comply with these grooming standards, contributing to resignations and reduced participation in public sector employment.
Earlier, in western Herat, teachers reported leaving public schools due to increasing pressure from the Taliban, including strict appearance regulations and salary reductions. According to several educators who spoke to KabulNow, Taliban authorities conducted frequent inspections in schools, closely monitoring teachers’ compliance with dress codes and personal grooming standards.
Teachers described a climate of constant surveillance, where Taliban representatives reportedly visited schools every two weeks. During these inspections, male teachers were checked for having beards, wearing traditional hats or turbans, and adhering to prescribed clothing rules.
