KABUL, AFGHANISTAN – Taliban forces raided a wedding in Faizabad, the capital of Badakhshan province, on Friday night after music was played, injuring two people, local sources confirmed.
The victims, a 15-year-old girl and a 67-year-old man, were shot when the Taliban’s morality police opened fire, forcing guests to flee the scene.
The chaos, captured in a video obtained by KabulNow, shows women screaming as the raid unfolded. The wedding ceremony had to be postponed until the following day.
In addition to the violence, the groom was fined 30,000 Afghanis (around $450) for allowing music at the event.
Taliban officials in the province have not commented on the incident.
Since reclaiming power in August 2021, the Taliban have enforced strict bans on music at weddings and other public gatherings, labeling it “un-Islamic.” Violators face arrests, fines, and, in some cases, torture. Just two days earlier, the Taliban arrested five men in Takhar for playing music.
The crackdown on music has led to an exodus of Afghan artists and musicians, many of whom have fled to Western countries. However, many remain in limbo, awaiting resettlement in Pakistan and Iran.
The Taliban have also staged public burnings of musical instruments and sound equipment, claiming they promote “moral corruption” and lead the youth astray.
