Sources in Herat province say that at least 11 lecturers at the Faculty of Medicine of Herat University have resigned in protest against the treatment of Taliban Vice and Virtue officials. According to the sources, the resignations followed the detention of several lecturers over the length of their beards.
Informed sources said on Thursday, August 20, that Taliban Vice and Virtue officials detained eight lecturers from the Faculty of Medicine at Herat University because their beards were considered too short and transferred them to the department’s office. The sources said the lecturers were held in a container at the department for about an hour.
According to the sources, the detained lecturers were released following the intervention of several doctors. The sources also said that three other lecturers at the Faculty of Medicine resigned in solidarity with their colleagues.
The Faculty of Medicine at Herat University has approximately 22 lecturers. With 11 of them having resigned, half of the faculty’s teaching staff have now left their positions. Sources warned that the situation could affect the education of students at the faculty.
According to the sources, 10 other lecturers at Herat University have also resigned individually over the past two years for similar reasons and in protest against the conduct of Taliban Vice and Virtue officials.
Since returning to power, the Taliban have imposed extensive restrictions on citizens’ clothing, appearance, and conduct. The group’s regulations for men include requirements such as maintaining a beard, with enforcement entrusted to its Vice and Virtue authorities.
Taliban Vice and Virtue officials have previously detained a number of men in various provinces for shaving or trimming their beards. The Taliban have not yet commented on the detention of the Herat University medical lecturers or their resignations.
Writer:Salima Aryaei
