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Taliban authorities have arrested fourteen individuals in northern Afghanistan for playing musical instruments and singing, actions that have been severely restricted since the group regained power in 2021.
According to a statement from provincial police released on Saturday, May 10, the arrests occurred on Thursday night in the capital of Takhar province, where the group had gathered at a residential home. The statement indicated that the gathering was held in the evening, during which participants played instruments and sang, allegedly causing a public disturbance. The detainees are currently under investigation.
Since reclaiming control of Afghanistan, the Taliban government has implemented laws and policies based on their strict interpretation of Islamic law. A prominent example of this is the comprehensive ban on most forms of music, which includes both live performances and the playing of recorded music at social events, public venues like restaurants, in vehicles, and through broadcast media. Following their return to power, the Taliban shut down music schools and destroyed musical instruments and sound systems, condemning music as a source of moral corruption and public disorder. Music is also banned in wedding halls, though some women in segregated sections of these events still manage to engage in the practice discreetly.
As a result of these restrictions, many Afghan musicians have fled the country, fearing for their safety and the collapse of their profession in one of the world’s poorest nations. The Taliban has encouraged remaining artists to focus their talents on Islamic poetry and unaccompanied vocal chants, which are among the few acceptable forms of musical expression under their regime. These measures echo the Taliban’s policies during their previous rule from 1996 to 2001.
