“Cultural genocide”: the photo that shows how the Taliban burn musical instruments

The Taliban burned musical instruments in Afghanistanafter stating that music “causes moral corruption.”

Musical equipment costing thousands of dollars was consumed in a bonfire on Saturday in the western province of Herat.

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Since taking power in 2021, the Taliban have imposed numerous restrictions, including playing music in public.

Ahmad Sarmast, founder of Afghanistan’s National Institute of Music, compared his actions to “cultural genocide and musical vandalism.”

“The people of Afghanistan have been denied artistic freedom”said Sarmast, who now resides in Portugal.

“The burning of musical instruments in Herat is just one small example of the cultural genocide taking place in Afghanistan under the leadership of the Taliban,” he added.

Some of the items burned in Herat include a guitar, a harmonium and some kind of drum, as well as amplifiers and speakers, according to images online.

Several of the instruments were seized at wedding venues..

An official from the Ministry of Vice and Virtue said that playing music would “lead young people astray”.

The Taliban made another instrument bonfire on July 19. The government posted photos of the fire on Twitter at the time, but did not say where in the country it occurred.

Women have been especially harmed by the Taliban’s restrictions. (AFP).

severe restrictions

From the mid-1990s until 2001, the first Taliban government banned all forms of music from social gatherings, television, and radio in Afghanistan.

The music scene flourished over the next two decades, but the return of the Taliban to power in August 2021 led many musicians to flee the country.

It has been reported that singers and musicians still in the country have been beaten and discriminated against.

In the last two years, the Taliban imposed severe restrictions under their strict interpretation of Islamic law.

Women are the most affected by these measures. The Taliban decreed that they must cover their entire body and only their eyes can be seen.

In addition, they must be accompanied by a male relative if they travel more than 45 miles.

Adolescents and women were prohibited from entering school and university classrooms, as well as gyms and parks.

In mid-July, beauty salons and hairdressers were ordered to close throughout the country, as they were considered non-Islamic places.

Source: Elcomercio