SOCIETY — March 31, 2026
Helmand Residents Report Harsh Treatment by Taliban Promotion of Virtue Enforcers
Residents in Lashkargah, Helmand province, reported that Taliban promotion of virtue enforcers have been patrolling markets, using harsh language against women over hijab and mistreating shopkeepers over beards. Complaints to local Taliban official Amin Badakhshani were dismissed with orders for women to wear chadri and avoid markets without a mahram.
The Ehtebar Desk — originates with Afghanistan International — 2 min read
LASHKARGAH, Afghanistan (Afghan Verified) -- Several residents in Lashkargah, the capital of Helmand province, said Taliban promotion of virtue enforcers and district police have patrolled the main market over the past three days, reprimanding women for improper hijab.
Residents reported that enforcers at market gates block women lacking proper hijab or a mahram, using bad language rather than offering advice. One resident said the enforcers' conduct provoked clashes with local people yesterday.
Residents complained to Amin Badakhshani, head of the Taliban's promotion of virtue department in Helmand. Sources said Badakhshani dismissed the complaints, telling them women should not visit the market without a mahram and must wear the chadri.
Enforcers have also mistreated shopkeepers with shortened or shaved beards, residents said, taking some away and closing their shops.
Afghanistan International reported similar enforcement in Kandahar province, where checkpoints order youth not to shave beards, adopt trendy hairstyles or listen to music.
Read the original reporting at Afghanistan International →
Reliability assessment
Single source with claims from anonymous residents ('several residents told', 'one resident said') and second-hand attribution to named official ('sources say Badakhshani said'); core event of enforcers patrolling and reprimanding women relies entirely on unnamed sources, unconfirmed by additional outlets.
The source language mixes facts with framing or advocacy wording. Afghanistan International: "humiliating treatment" (title), "bad words" (instead of advice), "improper behavior", "mistreat" – these phrases use judgmental and emotionally loaded language to negatively frame the enforcers' actions.
Independent web corroboration
An independent web search turned up no separate corroborating reports. Treat the account as single-sourced until more outlets pick it up.
Across the newsrooms
Filed by
Afghanistan International
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Framed
Framed
Filed under
Society — Helmand, Lashkargah, Taliban, Amin Badakhshani, Promotion of Virtue
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