In a stark display of cultural repression, four young Afghan men were detained and warned by the Taliban government’s Ministry for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice for publicly wearing clothing inspired by the British TV series Peaky Blinders.
The men, all in their early twenties from Herat province, had become popular locally for strolling through the streets in the show’s signature flat caps and three-piece suits, even giving interviews about their passion for vintage fashion.
Four young men were detained by Afghanistan’s Taliban authorities and put into a rehabilitation program for walking around in public dressed up as their favorite characters from the hit British drama “Peaky Blinders.” The Taliban government’s Ministry for the Promotion of Virtue… pic.twitter.com/mDqymzMj9P
— CBS News (@CBSNews) December 9, 2025
However, the Taliban quickly deemed the outfits to be in “conflict with Afghan and Islamic values,” accusing the friends of “promoting foreign culture” and “imitating film actors.” A ministry spokesman stressed that their society must follow “righteous religious predecessors” and that the British-inspired clothing had “no Afghan identity at all.” Although the men were reportedly “summoned, advised, and released” rather than formally arrested, the incident underscores the strict cultural restrictions imposed by the Taliban since their 2021 takeover, where any perceived deviation from their interpretation of Sharia law is swiftly policed.
You May Like To Read: INSTAGRAM GIVES USERS ALGORITHM CONTROL WITH NEW ‘YOUR ALGORITHM’ TOOL
The ministry even released a video showing one of the men expressing remorse for “sharing content that was against Sharia,” highlighting the constant threat of surveillance and enforcement facing citizens who challenge the hard-line rulers’ rigid social code.
Check out our latest video:
