From Fashion to Detention: Taliban Arrest Youths for Peaky Blinders Looks
Four young men in Herat, Afghanistan, were detained by the Taliban’s morality police after dressing in outfits inspired by the British TV drama Peaky Blinders. The group was accused of promoting “foreign culture” and imitating film actors, leading authorities to force them into a “rehabilitation programme.” Videos of their stylish walk went viral before attracting Taliban scrutiny, sparking outrage online and raising fresh concerns about cultural repression under the regime.
Ama Boah
Taliban Cracks Down on ‘Foreign Culture’
The four men: Asghar Husinai, Jalil Yaqoobi, Ashore Akbari, and Daud Rasa were stopped by the Ministry for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice after their coordinated walk, complete with long coats and flat caps, spread across Afghan social media.
According to Taliban officials, their outfits “promoted foreign culture” and failed to represent an “authentic Afghan identity.” Authorities claimed the group was “advised” and placed in a rehabilitation programme designed to correct behaviours deemed un-Islamic.
A video later released by officials showed one of the men apologising and pledging not to engage in similar activities online, a confession many observers believe was made under pressure.
A Viral Trend Becomes a Crime
The trend began harmlessly: four stylish youths recreating the iconic Peaky Blinders walk made famous by the Shelby family in the BBC/Netflix series. Afghans initially reacted with humour and admiration, sharing the clip thousands of times.
But in Taliban-controlled Afghanistan, Western entertainment references even in clothing fall under intense scrutiny. The video’s popularity, ironically, may have triggered the regime’s attention.
Public Backlash and Fear of Cultural Erasure
Afghan social media users reacted with anger, calling the detentions yet another example of excessive policing of personal expression.
Rights advocates argue that the Taliban’s fixation on dress codes and Western cultural references shows the regime’s intent to extinguish creativity, individuality, and youth culture altogether.
For many, the sight of young men punished for simply wearing tailored coats and caps underscores the suffocating atmosphere that now defines daily life in Afghanistan.
A Symbol of a Larger Struggle
Since returning to power in 2021, the Taliban has imposed sweeping restrictions on clothing, art, social media use, and entertainment. Women have faced the harshest limitations, but the arrest of the Peaky Blinders imitation group suggests that even harmless fashion expression among men is now policed.
The incident has quickly become a talking point across the world not because of the outfits themselves, but because of what they represent: a society where even a viral fashion moment is subject to state punishment.
Source:
DailyMail/ABC/CBS
