The decision was made by the barbers' association in conservative North-West

Ban on fashionable beards echoes threats made to barbers by Taliban in past

Barbers deny there has been any outside influence, saying it's purely religious

Fashionable trimmed beards have become popular among middle-class

Barbers in Pakistan's conservative northwest have announced a ban on 'fashionable' beard and hair styles, saying it violates Islamic law.

The decision in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province echoes a similar ban introduced there more than a decade ago, after militant groups including the Pakistani Taliban threatened barbers.

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Sharif Kahlu, president of the Sulemani Hairdressers Association, said English and French hair and beard styles are against the teachings of the Prophet Mohammed.

A Pakistani hairdresser styles the beard of a customer at a hair salon in Peshawar, Pakistan

'We are Muslims and will follow the teachings of Islam. Those who want French and English cut of hair and beard should not visit our salons,' he said.

He said all members of his association have promised to abide by the decision and notices would be pasted in shops throughout the province informing customers.

Different Muslim sects adhere to different beard shapes and lengths, but the most generally accepted 'Islamic' beard is one that is long enough to be visible from a certain distance, but not longer than a fistful of hair.

Kahlu said over two hundred thousand hairdressers were members of his organisation, Pakistan's Dawn newspaper reported.

Sharif Kahlu, president of the Sulemani Hairdressers Association, those who want English or French hair or beard styles 'should not visit our salons'

He strongly denied any pressure on his association from any militant organisation, calling the move 'a decision of our conscience'.

'We met local administrations of all the major cities and districts in the province and they assured us of their full cooperation but refused to issue any directive to make this decision official,' he said.

He said there were several shops in the province, which were not members of the association.

'We will try and convince them to implement the decision but will not force them at all.'

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Adil Khan, the association's general secretary, said that another group of hairdressers was spreading rumours the decision would give the wrong message to the foreigners.

But he said: 'Our decision is purely in accordance with the teachings of Islam and will not have any impact on foreigners,' he said.

Militants attacked many barber shops and saloons in the province a decade ago, calling the shaving of beards un-Islamic.

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In recent years the growing number of middle class men in Pakistan's major cities like Karachi and Lahore have become more style conscious, including growing fashionable beards.