Virginia meeting warns of widespread damage to Afghan culture and media

The fifth session of “Afghanistan Dialogues,” focused on the impact of restrictions on Afghanistan’s culture and media, was held, with participants warning that cultural institutions and structures have suffered damage in recent years.

The event was held on Sunday, Sept. 8, under the title “Cultural Collapse in Afghanistan: Assessing the State of Culture and Media Over the Past Five Years,” by the Molana House in Virginia, United States. The session examined the state of culture and media after the Taliban administration took control in 2021.

According to participants, although Afghan culture has not disappeared, cultural activities have faced greater restrictions in recent years and cultural institutions have been seriously damaged. They said pressure on art and music has led some artists to stop working or turn to other jobs.

The meeting also said the number of active media outlets has declined. According to participants, many journalists and media workers have also left Afghanistan because of restrictions and the lack of job opportunities.

Molana House, the organizer of the event, is based in the U.S. state of Virginia. The meeting was the fifth round of “Afghanistan Dialogues,” a programme focused on reviewing issues related to Afghanistan’s social and cultural situation.