Taliban scolds fighters for taking selfies, wearing fashionable clothes

A Taliban leader has declared selfies as compromising, especially if they include a senior member.

The Taliban have issued warnings to their foot soldiers for taking selfies, the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported.

In an audio message released on Thursday, the Taliban government’s Defence Minister, Mawlawi Mohammad Yaqoob — a son of Taliban founder Mullah Omar — reprimanded the fighters for engaging in such an activity, as well as hanging out in large groups.

He said, “Stick to the tasks you have been assigned. You are damaging our status, which has been created with the blood of our martyrs.”

Yaqoob highlighted that he was particularly annoyed with fighters who, during their encounters with the Taliban’s leaders, used their phones to take photos of them.

Such photos compromise the security of their leadership once they are uploaded onto social media, Yaqoob added, as it gives away their location.

Reuters reported that Yaqoob also slammed Taliban soldiers for entering government offices to take selfies, despite such places not being within their patrol’s assignment.

He was quoted as saying:

“This is highly objectionable as everyone is taking out mobile phones and taking snaps in the important and sensitive ministries without any reason. Such hanging out and taking snaps and videos will not help you in this world, and also in the hereafter.”

Yaqoob also took umbrage at fighters over their attire, and demanded that they ensure their beards, hair and clothing are in line with “Islamic values.”

WSJ further reported that Taliban fighters have been reportedly spotted with sunglasses, fashionable clothing, and shoulder-length haircuts.

Speeding and the disregard of traffic rules was also brought up as another point of contention by Yaqoob.

Decrying such behaviour as belonging to the “warlords and gangsters of the puppet regime,” minister added, “If we continue to act like this, God forbid, we will lose our Islamic system.”