Afghanistan: Treatment of men showing signs of non-conformity to Propagation of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice (PVPV) regulations

Asylos has published another open access research report covering the situation of men in Afghanistan showing signs of non-conformity to Propagation of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice (PVPV) regulations.

Since the Taliban’s return to power, the Law on the Propagation of Virtue and Prevention of Vice (PVPV), enacted in August 2024, has systematically restricted fundamental freedoms for all Afghans. While sources suggest that women face the most severe oppression, Afghan men also experience significant human rights violations through strict regulations governing appearance, religious practice, and daily conduct.

Sources indicate that enforcement has resulted in arbitrary detention, corporal punishment, and job loss, and has created a climate of fear. Men report being stopped on streets, photographed for monitoring, threatened with imprisonment, and subjected to invasive physical checks. According to sources, barbershops have been raided and closed, with barbers detained for providing “non-compliant” services.

This research can be used as a tool to help identify relevant Country of Origin Information. It was produced in response to information needs of people seeking asylum, and is part of an initiative to publish, open access, a selection of our bespoke research. In making this report widely accessible, we hope that the report can contribute to fair and evidence-based decision-making in as many asylum cases as possible.

Do you have any comments or feedback on our research report?
We would love to hear it! Email us at info@asylos.org 

Photo credit: Mieszko9