On Saturday, July 29th, Afghan authorities burned confiscated musical instruments and sound equipment in Herat province, stating that music is “immoral.”
According to AFP, the burned items included a guitar, two other string instruments, an accordion, a tabla drum, as well as amplifiers and speakers. Most of these instruments and equipment were confiscated from wedding venues.
According to Aziz al-Rahman al-Muhajir, the head of Herat province’s virtue and vice department, “promoting music leads to moral corruption, and playing music misguides the youth.”
Since regaining power in August 2021, the Taliban has imposed strict Islamic rules, including a prohibition on music in public locations. Local women’s liberties have also been severely restricted, with restrictions on their access to parks, playgrounds, and gyms, as well as being barred from entering universities.
Previously, Afghan authorities ordered the closure of all beauty salons in the country by the end of July, citing various cosmetic services as being overly expensive or in violation with Islamic principles.
