Taliban Authorities in Khost Burn Over 650 Musical Instruments

The Ministry for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice under the Taliban administration in Khost province announced on November 4th that more than 650 musical instruments and playback devices were burned in the province. These instruments had been collected over the past four months from the provincial center and various districts of Khost. Mustafa Ghaerbaz, spokesperson for the Taliban governor in Khost, stated that this action was taken as part of the Taliban administration’s commitment to reinforce “Islamic values” and reform society. The Taliban administration considers music to be contrary to Islamic values and has banned its playing and broadcasting; consequently, musical instruments and playback devices are being confiscated and destroyed by fire.