The Taliban’s religious police have burned a large pile of musical instruments in Afghanistan’s northern province of Badakhshan, deeming them against Sharia law.
Samiullah Sorush, provincial head of Taliban’s Ministry of Promotion of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice, said they collected these instruments over recent months while photos circulated on social media show musical instruments destroyed while they were set aflame.
Taliban view music as “evil”, saying it leads to “corruption of the youth and the destruction of society.”
This is the latest to emerge showing the Taliban’s violent campaign against musicians and artists in the country.
Earlier, Abdulhaq Hamad, the Taliban’s media monitoring head at the Ministry of Information and Culture, told TOLONews that singing and playing musical instruments are acts that go against Sharia law. He recommended that those prohibited by the ban should find another source of income for themselves and their families.
Since their takeover in August 2021, the group has severely restricted musicians and artists, prompting hundreds to flee the country to safety.
Others who are left behind remain at risk of intimidation, abuse, torture, and even death. Musicians are also forced to make pledges that they would never sing or play music against.
In late August 2021, Fawad Andarabi, a well-known folk singer, was killed by the Taliban in the village of Andarab, north of Kabul.
In June last year, Muslim Nuristani, also a popular folk singer, along with his brother, was killed by unknown gunmen in the eastern Nuristan province.
In one instance, a renowned singer, Goodar Zazai, was beaten and humiliated by Taliban men before being forced to watch the burn of his musical instruments. The singer was shown weeping in the video and Taliban fighters were seen laughing, triggering widespread condemnation and outrage.
In another instance, Taliban fighters were seen in a video smashing and destroying various musical instruments, including rubâb, a tabla, and a harmonium, with stones.
