Hairdressers in northwest have announced a ban in their shops on "fashionable" beards, saying trendy facial hair violates Islamic law. The decision affecting Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province echoes a similar ban introduced there more than a decade ago, after militant groups including the Pakistani Taliban threatened barbers with dire consequences for trimming beards.
"Creating different beard designs is against the Sunnah (teachings) of the holy Prophet Mohammed (PBUH)," Sulemani Hairdressers Association president Sharif Kahlu told a press conference in Peshawar on Monday. He said tens of thousands of barbers, all members of his association, have promised to abide by the decision and notices would be pasted in shops throughout the province informing customers.
Kahlu strongly denied any pressure on his association from any militant organisation, calling the move "a decision of our conscience". "We met local administrations of all the major cities and districts in the province and they assured us of their full cooperation but refused to issue any directive to make this decision official," he said. He said there were several shops in the province, which were not members of the association. "We will try and convince them to implement the decision but will not force them at all."
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