Taliban Authorities Confiscate Musical Instruments from Youth in Ghazni

The Taliban’s Department for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice in Ghazni province announced that its agents monitored youth recreation in the Andar district and confiscated a number of musical and entertainment devices.

According to a statement released on Sunday, 31 May, agents seized 14 tambourines, eight music playback devices (MP3 players), and 15 sets of Ludo board games from the public park in Andar district. The statement did not specify where these items were taken or what their fate would be.

The Taliban’s Department for the Promotion of Virtue also did not clarify whether any individuals were arrested following this action.

In recent years, the Taliban administration has imposed extensive restrictions on cultural and recreational activities across the country. Previously, in various provinces, this department has confiscated musical instruments and entertainment devices, sometimes burning them.

On numerous occasions, young people have been arrested and imprisoned for listening to or playing music. These actions have drawn critical reactions from citizens and cultural rights activists, raising concerns about the shrinking space for recreation and individual freedoms.