Taliban morality police detained approximately 20 aid workers near the Islam Qala border crossing (a major entry point on Afghanistan's western frontier with Iran) on Saturday after determining their beards were too short, according to three sources from humanitarian organisations. The workers, described as national male staff employed by UN implementing partner organisations including the International Organisation for Migration, were held at the Islam Qala Reception Centre and later transferred to Kohsan; most were released within a day. The incident highlights the Taliban government's enforcement of its strict interpretation of Islamic law, which requires men to grow beards longer than a fist, and raises concerns about the operating environment for aid organisations working in Afghanistan.