Barbers in a southern Afghan region have been forbidden from shaving or trimming beards by the Taliban.

The Taliban's vice and virtue department in Lashkar Gah, Helmand province's capital, issued the order.

The Taliban followed a strict interpretation of Islam during their prior administration. Men were required to grow beards by the conservative group. Many men have chosen for clipped beards or a clean shave since being removed from power following the US-led invasion in 2001.

"Anyone who breaks the rule will be punished, and no one has the right to complain," the barbers' directive stated.

It was not immediately apparent what consequences the barbers may face if they broke the rule.

"I have been heartbroken since I heard [about the beard trimming ban]," Bilal Ahmad, a Lashkar Gah resident, told AP. "Because this is a city and everyone has their own way of life, they must be left alone to do whatever they want."

The world has been watching to see if the Taliban will reinstall the tight government of the late 1990s since they overran Kabul on August 15 and assumed control of the country.

Taliban shooters executed four alleged kidnappers on Saturday and then hung their bodies in the public squares of Herat, Afghanistan.

Jalaluddin, the proprietor of a barbershop, said he hoped the Taliban would reconsider their demands.

"I request that our Taliban brothers allow people to live their lives as they wish, including the right to trim their beards and hair," he stated.

"Right now, we have a few clients who are afraid to come to us because they don't want to have their hair or beards trimmed, so I request that they let people go so we can run our business and people can freely come to us."

Sher Afzal, another barbershop owner, said the decree had a negative impact on his business.

"If someone comes in for a haircut, they will return in 40 to 45 days, so it is affecting our business just like it is affecting other businesses."