RASC News Agency: The Taliban’s Ministry for the Propagation of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice has announced that in the past year, it has destroyed 21,328 musical instruments across Afghanistan. The ministry has hailed the destruction of these instruments as a “virtuous act,” framing it as part of a “struggle” and a “significant achievement.”
Mohibullah Mokhlis, the Director of Planning and Legislation at the ministry, revealed these figures during a press conference held in Kabul on Tuesday, August 20. Over the past year, numerous reports have emerged detailing the Taliban’s systematic collection and incineration of musical instruments in various provinces across the country.
Driven by a sense of religious obligation, the Taliban take pride in breaking musical instruments. This stance, however, is contradicted by the release of several videos showing Taliban members dancing and singing themselves. The group categorically deems listening to music as “haram,” or forbidden, and considers it a major vice, thereby justifying their actions of seizing and burning musical instruments.
The Director of Planning and Legislation for the Taliban’s Ministry for the Propagation of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice also spoke of the “reformation” of audio, visual, and print media, asserting that media broadcasts have been “corrected” by 90% over the past year. According to this Taliban official, the timing of the call to prayer has been standardized, with 460 loudspeakers installed throughout Kabul to ensure uniformity in the broadcast of the adhan.
The Taliban’s primary focus has been on the construction of madrasas, building mosques, destroying musical instruments, and enforcing strict dress codes for women. To date, they have arrested and beaten dozens of women for non-compliance with their prescribed dress code. The United Nations Human Rights Office has also reported that the Taliban’s Ministry for the Propagation of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice has primarily targeted girls from Shia and Tajik communities for arrest in their enforcement of the dress code.
Previously, women’s rights activists and human rights organizations have repeatedly condemned the Taliban’s arrest of women for so-called “improper hijab,” describing these actions as “abductions” and demanding an immediate halt to such practices.
