Taliban police in Herat province announced that they prevented the smuggling of nearly 100 kilograms of women's hair out of Afghanistan, arresting two suspects in connection with the case.
Masoud Hossaini, spokesperson for the Taliban police in Herat, stated on Monday that the individuals were detained by highway security battalion forces. He added that the suspects will be referred to judicial authorities following preliminary investigations.
The official statement did not specify where the hair was collected from or which foreign country was its intended destination.
Natural human hair is commonly traded internationally for manufacturing wigs and extensions, finding buyers in foreign markets including Pakistan and China. Prices vary based on length, color, and quality.
The Taliban administration has banned the trade of human hair, declaring it impermissible under their interpretation of Islamic law. However, reports indicate that severe economic hardship forces some Afghan women to sell their hair.
According to an AFP report, Fatima, a 28-year-old resident in Kabul, said she sells every 100 grams of hair for approximately 3 dollars to meet living costs. In Herat, 45-year-old Simin Gul stated she sold her and her daughters' hair for 300 Afghanis to buy food.
Earlier, on October 19, Taliban authorities burned 800 kilograms of seized human hair in the Guzara district of Herat province.
Source: AFP and local Taliban officials
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