KABUL, AFGHANISTAN – The Taliban have detained Gholam Farooq Sarkhosh and Firoz Ahmad Malaeka, two prominent and veteran theater artists in western Herat province, after they criticized the group’s ban on images of living beings, local sources reported.
Sources told KabulNow that the Taliban’s Department for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice summoned the two artists on Thursday and subsequently detained them. The sources said the detentions followed their criticism of a ban on publishing images of living beings, which was enforced in Herat a day earlier.
The restriction, ordered by Taliban leader Hibatullah Akhundzada, is now in effect in 23 of Afghanistan’s 34 provinces. The head of the department in Herat told journalists that defying the rule “is defying God and is unacceptable.” The ban has disrupted visual reporting and led to the closure of at least 20 television stations nationwide.
Gholam Farooq Sarkhosh has been active in Herat’s theater scene for more than three decades and was recently elected head of the province’s Theater Artists’ Union, according to local sources. Firoz Ahmad Malaeka is also a well-known theater artist in the region.
Since returning to power in August 2021, the Taliban have imposed strict restrictions on media, music, theater, cinema, and other forms of artistic expression, citing their interpretation of Islamic law. Many media outlets and theaters have closed, performances have ceased, and artistic gatherings have been restricted or banned.
Numerous artists have been detained, questioned, or intimidated, prompting many to flee, go into hiding, or abandon their professions as Afghanistan’s film and performing arts industries have largely collapsed.
The Taliban have also targeted cultural infrastructure, demolishing several historic cinemas. Last month, Ariana Cinema in Kabul, one of Afghanistan’s oldest theaters, was torn down. Earlier, Khair Khana Cinema in Kabul was also demolished.
