A radical Islamic group in Pakistan’s Khyber Agency bordering Afghanistan has warned that any man shaving his beard will have to pay a fine of Rs 5,000.
Haji Namdar, the chief of the Tanzim Bilmaroof (group for promotion of virtue), announced a ban on shaving in a broadcast made on Wednesday from his illegal FM radio station.
“Shaving the beard is forbidden in Islam and I feel duty-bound to make every Muslim of my tribe sport a beard,” said Namdar.
The Tanzim Bilmaroof had earlier imposed fines for various acts it says are against the teachings of Islam. This includes a fine of Rs 50,000 for owning a dish antenna for receiving satellite TV broadcasts and a fine of Rs 500 for not praying five times a day.
The group has also banned listening to music and watching TV. It has also imposed a fine of Rs 500 for each audio cassette found in any person’s possession. Volunteers of the Tanzim Amr Bilmaroof have severely beaten tribesmen who do not cover their heads.
Namdar was the first person to set up a radical group in Bar Qambarkhel in Khyber Agency and establish an illegal radio station. However, the Sheikhmal Khel tribe has revolted against Namdar after he set up checkpoints to collect “toll tax” from vehicles.
The Tanzim Bilmaroof also has links with the Lashkar-e-Islam militant group led by Mangal Bagh. The Lashkar-e-Islam too has banned several “un-Islamic acts” and imposed severe fines for violators.
