In Afghanistan, the ban on music has once again manifested itself strongly. According to information provided by the International Organization of Afghanistan, representatives of the "Taliban" movement said that about 500 musical instruments collected from civilians were burned en masse in the Parwan region.
Officials from the neighboring Laghman region also reported that more than 100 musical instruments were destroyed as a result of such "raids." Thus, the situation in both regions shows that the anti-music campaign is simultaneously expanding.
According to reports from Afghan state television, the morality police (a structure called for good and forbidden from evil) have been collecting instruments for this very purpose for the past year. That is, this is not a "one-day promotion," but a long, pre-planned process.
According to Abdul Majib Hanafi, a member of the morality police, among the destroyed items were harmonies, tablas (double drum), tombaks (Persian drum), tambourines, as well as trumpets and various audio equipment. In other words, it's not just about "one or two instruments" - inventory belonging to an entire cultural environment has been destroyed.
The policy in this area is not new. It is noted that since the Taliban regained power in August 2021, they have tightened strict restrictions on the placement, performance, and public performance of music.
In recent years, there have been reports of dozens of people being detained in various regions, and thousands of musical instruments being confiscated and destroyed. It is also reported that warnings have been intensified for owners of hotels and venues related to weddings and celebrations not to allow music at public events.
The discussions surrounding this event are natural: on one hand, the interpretation of "sterification of rules," and on the other hand, concerns about increasing pressure on art and culture, further reducing society's spiritual life. In any case, the topic of music in Afghanistan will remain at the center of major debates for a long time.
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