Taliban Imposes Severe Restrictions on Music and Artists in Kandahar, Leading to Economic Hardship and Cultural Erosion
The Taliban has implemented stringent restrictions on music and artistic activities in Kandahar, Afghanistan, leading to significant economic hardship and humiliation for local singers and musicians. According to reports, artists are not only barred from performing but are also subjected to insults and taunts by Taliban members, who refer to them as 'brothers of Satan.' Many artists, like Habib, who once supported large families through music, are now forced into menial jobs, such as street peddling, to survive. Aminullah, a tabla player, recounted how the Taliban's Morality Police raided artists' homes and confiscated instruments, even after artists swore they had abandoned their craft. Some prominent artists have fled to Pakistan, while those remaining face continuous harassment and the destruction of their musical instruments, as exemplified by Mohammad Ali, an instrumentalist who was imprisoned and had his sitar broken by the Taliban.
