Arya News - Four Afghan men who dress up as the Peaky Blinders have been arrested by the Taliban for violating “Islamic values”.
Four Afghan men who dress up as the Peaky Blinders have been arrested by the Taliban for violating “Islamic values”.
The group, all in their early 20s, who are known online as the “Jebrael Shelbys” after the Shelby family in the BBC crime show, were arrested in the Herat province in western Afghanistan.
The men parade around their township of Jebrael imitating the characters from the show, which is set in interwar Birmingham.
The Taliban’s Ministry for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice, the hardline morality police that replaced the former Ministry of Women’s Affairs , said the group was arrested for promoting foreign culture.
Saif Khyber, a Taliban spokesman, said on Sunday: “A programme for their correction has begun. We, praise be to God, are Muslims and Afghans; we have our own religion, culture and values.
“We have saved this country from the spread of corrupt cultures through great sacrifices, and now we will defend it as well.
He added their behaviour was inconsistent with “Islamic values and Afghan culture”.
The Taliban has said the group’s behaviour is not consistent with ‘Afghan culture’ - Samaan Lateef
In the videos, which have received millions of views on social media, the men are dressed in flat caps, suits, waistcoats and overcoats.
Asghar Hussaini, the group’s leader who plays the main character Tommy, said they came together in mid-November because of a shared interest in the characters’ clothing.
“We want to go to all provinces of Afghanistan and showcase the culture and different types of clothing in Afghanistan in future globally,” Mr Hussaini said in a YouTube interview before their arrest.
Ashour Akbari, who plays the role of Michael, said the reaction was positive from people in Afghanistan.
“Until today, no one had published this content of classic dressing style in Afghanistan. We have had the same monotonous dressing style for the past many decades and wanted to show variety,” he said.
The Taliban described their activity as spreading “foreign film-style acts” and presented forced the men to apologise to the media.
Ashour Akbari has said the Jebrael Shelbys want to show variety in their clothing over Afghanistan’s ‘monotonous’ classic style - Samaan Lateef
According to the ministry, they offered “remorse” after receiving “necessary guidance”. It remains unclear under what conditions the statement was recorded.
The arrests come just a week after the ministry detained a 70-year-old TikTok user known as “Malak Akbar”, accusing him of posting content deemed “un-Islamic”.
The elderly man was transferred to a Taliban court, with officials warning that others producing similar material would face the same fate.
Since taking power in 2021, the Taliban has enforced a strict version of Sharia, severely curbing free speech, women’s rights and enforcing strict dress codes.
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