Hobnob News reports that Taliban authorities in northern Afghanistan have arrested 14 individuals for engaging in music and singing during a private gathering, an act now forbidden under the regime’s stringent interpretation of Islamic law.
According to a statement released by the police in Takhar province, the arrests were made late Thursday night in the provincial capital. The statement explained that the group “took advantage of the nighttime to gather in a residential home, playing musical instruments and singing songs, which disturbed the public.”
Since the Taliban reclaimed power in 2021, they have reinstated harsh cultural restrictions, echoing their previous rule from 1996 to 2001. Music, deemed a source of “moral corruption” by the regime, is banned across public settings including weddings, restaurants, cars, and broadcast media. In addition to closing music schools and destroying instruments, the Taliban have encouraged musicians to shift toward religious chanting and Islamic poetry.
Although public music has been silenced, some performances reportedly continue in discreet, women-only settings. However, the majority of Afghan musicians have fled the country, seeking safety and opportunities abroad after losing both their freedoms and livelihoods.
The 14 detainees are currently under investigation, authorities confirmed.
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