The Taliban (banned in Russia) has explained the ban on beauty salons in Afghanistan by citing the refusal of these establishments to comply with regulations set by the Ministry of Promoting Virtue, Preventing Evil, Summoning and Hearing Complaints, which was established after the Taliban assumed power in the country.
According to the ministry, about four months ago, beauty salons were given a "list of mandatory requirements" that they needed to adhere to in order to continue their operations. These requirements included allocating a space for customers to perform ablutions before makeup application, ensuring prayers were performed at the allotted times, and ensuring female customers wore the hijab. The salons' failure to comply with these rules resulted in the decision to close them down.
However, the Union of Women's Beauty Salons countered the ministry's claims by accusing them of "not intending to monitor the implementation of these recommendations." They called for inspections to identify salons not following the specified 14 rules. Many in the industry also expressed concerns for the female employees who rely on these jobs to support their families. If the closure is enforced, over 50,000 employees across 12,000 women's salons in Afghanistan could become unemployed, according to the Afghan Women's Makeup Union.
Earlier in the month, it was reported that the Ministry of Promoting Virtue, Preventing Evil, Summoning and Hearing Complaints would ban women's beauty salons from operating in the country starting on July 25. The decision was reportedly influenced by verbal instructions from Taliban leader Haibatullah Akhundzada. The ban targeted services like eyebrow shaping and hair extensions, which were deemed "contrary to Sharia." The ministry also cited a desire to conserve the family budget of ordinary Afghans, as "women's spending on beauty services" was seen as "unnecessary in the country's unfavorable economic situation."
The ban has sparked protests among Afghan women, leading to clashes with security forces who used fire hoses and stun guns to disperse the demonstrations.
GSV "Russia - Islamic world"
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Based on materials from TASS