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Bisham bans shaving
Barbers in the town of Bisham have stopped shaving beards. All 17 of the town’s barbers now refuse to use the razor to remove existing beards or stubble because they term shaving “un-Islamic”. The decision was taken after a committee of barbers decided it was un-Islamic to shave beards, a BBC report said. Islamic sentiment runs high in the town, a stronghold of Tehrik Nifaze Shariat Mohammadi. The ban on shaving beards is not expected to have a large affect the locals because almost all men boast bushy facial hair.
Many of their wives do, too...
Sher Ali of the Bisham Barbers’ Association said the ban is the result of “an on-going debate about our work. There were concerns that our earnings from shaving beards were un-Islamic and tainted, so we have decided to stop.” The town’s barbers will continue to trim men’s hair, massage scalps and groom those who use the public baths. They are reportedly considering a further ban on “western-style” haircuts.
"Tighten that turban for you, sir?"

Posted by: Fred Pruitt 2003-10-21
http://www.rantburg.com/poparticle.php?ID=20189