Taliban burn more than 140 music players in Logar

The Taliban’s Ministry for the Propagation of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice in Logar province said on Monday, Oct. 27, that it had burned at least 142 music players in the province. The devices had been collected from the provincial capital and districts of Logar.

Ikrakmullah Aziz, a spokesman for the department, urged people to refrain from playing music, singing and using musical instruments during celebrations, weddings and other ceremonies, an act that highlights the Taliban administration’s growing restrictions on artistic and cultural activity.

Since returning to power in Afghanistan, the Taliban administration has imposed severe bans on the production and listening of music. Over the past five years, these restrictions have led to the arrest of dozens of people and the public burning of thousands of musical instruments.

Cultural restrictions and fears of arrest have forced many artists, singers and music teachers to leave the country or abandon their artistic work. Afghanistan’s National Institute of Music has also halted its activities inside the country since the Taliban returned and moved abroad.

With these bans in place, opportunities for learning, producing and publishing music have fallen sharply, raising concerns about preserving and continuing Afghanistan’s rich musical heritage.