Taliban Enforces Strict Restrictions on Annual Gol Anab Poetry Festival in Farah
Local sources have informed 8 Sobh newspaper that the Taliban administration held the annual Gol Anab poetry festival in Farah province under stringent restrictions.
According to these sources, the Taliban only permit the recitation of poems that praise the group and encourage people to support the Taliban’s objectives. Other poems, especially those with critical, romantic, or artistic themes, have been banned.
The Taliban’s Ministry of Information and Culture oversight committee reviews all poems and literary works submitted by participants before the event and removes any content that falls outside the prescribed framework.
Additionally, the Taliban administration has developed a special protocol for holding poetry competitions throughout Afghanistan, further tightening control over literary and cultural content. This has resulted in a significant limitation of the country’s cultural and artistic space.
These restrictions are implemented despite poetry competitions being a longstanding and valuable cultural heritage in Afghanistan. The Taliban’s approach has effectively curtailed freedom of expression and the creativity of poets.
