Six Arrested for Alcohol Consumption and “Un-Islamic Activities” in Taliban-Controlled Baghlan Province

Image: Jihad Watch

In a recent development underscoring the Taliban regime’s continued enforcement of its rigid interpretation of Islamic law, six individuals have been apprehended in northern Afghanistan's Baghlan province for allegedly consuming alcohol. The arrests were announced in an official statement by the Taliban’s Ministry for the Propagation of Virtue and Prevention of Vice.

According to ministry spokesperson Saif-ul-Islam Khyber, the detentions occurred in the village of Dara-e-Ashaqan, located in the Tala wa Barfak district. The suspects were reportedly discovered inside a guesthouse where they were allegedly found drinking alcohol, an act strictly prohibited under the Taliban’s version of Sharia law.

Beyond the charge of alcohol consumption, Khyber further alleged that the individuals were involved in additional “un-Islamic activities,” though he did not specify the nature of these accusations. The spokesperson emphasized that the case has been handed over to the judiciary after an initial investigation conducted by religious enforcement officials.

The Taliban, since reclaiming power in 2021, has revived its notorious Ministry for the Propagation of Virtue and Prevention of Vice, a department previously known for enforcing the group’s strict moral codes during their rule in the 1990s. Activities such as drinking alcohol, listening to music, gambling, and interactions between unrelated men and women are banned under their governance. Punishments can range from imprisonment to corporal punishment, depending on the perceived severity of the offense.

This incident serves as yet another reminder of the tightening grip of the Taliban’s moral policing and their determination to eliminate what they classify as behaviors contrary to Islamic teachings. The lack of transparency around the legal proceedings and the exact charges further highlights the arbitrary nature of the justice system currently operating under Taliban control.

Observers and human rights advocates continue to express concern over the regime’s harsh enforcement tactics, limited due process, and the curtailment of basic freedoms in Taliban-ruled Afghanistan.

(This Article was originally published by Jihad Watch)