Four held for wearing ‘Peaky Blinders’–style outfits in Afghanistan
Taliban authorities in western Afghanistan detained four young men after they were seen wearing outfits inspired by TV series Peaky Blinders
KABUL, Afghanistan (MNTV) — Taliban authorities in western Afghanistan have detained four young men in Herat after they were seen wearing outfits inspired by the British TV series Peaky Blinders, accusing them of promoting “foreign culture,” officials said.
The arrests occurred in Jebrael township, said Saif-ul-Islam Khyber, spokesperson for the Ministry for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice.
Photos of the youths — dressed in long coats, flat caps and attire associated with the Shelby family in the series — had circulated widely online, where Afghan social media users jokingly dubbed them the “Jebrael Shelbys.”
In an earlier interview with the YouTube channel Herat Mic, the men said they adopted the style out of admiration for the show and had received mostly positive reactions. One added that they hoped to later promote traditional Afghan clothing that reflects the country’s diverse ethnic heritage.
The ministry, however, said their behavior violated “Islamic values and Afghan culture.” Khyber later posted a video in which one of the young men expressed regret.
Authorities in Herat have routinely detained individuals for violating Taliban-imposed dress codes. The ministry has also instructed barbers to avoid beard trimming and hairstyles viewed as “Western.”
Since the Taliban’s return to power in 2021, the ministry — which replaced the former Ministry of Women’s Affairs — has enforced strict rules on public conduct that UN agencies say have created an “atmosphere of fear.”
In a separate statement on X, the ministry confirmed that the youths, residents of Enjil district, were detained for sharing TikTok and other social-media videos in which they dressed like Thomas Shelby, the show’s protagonist played by Cillian Murphy. The ministry called the videos “foreign film-style acts.”
Officials said the detainees expressed “remorse” after receiving “necessary guidance” and warned others against imitating styles linked to non-Muslim cultures.
Human-rights advocate Ahmadullah Waak said the case underscores the Taliban’s growing restrictions on personal expression, noting that choices in clothing, hairstyles and online personas increasingly result in punishment. The ministry has previously detained social media creators and released videos of coerced apologies.
Peaky Blinders, first broadcast on the BBC, is a British crime drama set in 1920s Birmingham and known for its distinctive fashion. A new series continuing the Shelby family story was announced in October.
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