RASC News Agency: Several filmmakers from Herat province assert that the Taliban’s takeover has obliterated all the progress made by this segment of society. One Herat filmmaker, speaking anonymously, told RASC News Agency on Saturday, May 18, that the Taliban have disrupted the lives and future of cinema in the province, erasing the achievements of two decades of work.
He added that filmmakers aspired to develop Afghanistan’s cinema industry through their art and profession. However, the Taliban’s sudden rise to power has plunged this community into utter darkness. He continued, stating that a significant portion of Herat’s filmmakers in western Afghanistan are now in complete uncertainty, with no hope of resuming their work in the foreseeable future.
Another female filmmaker in western Afghanistan, also requesting anonymity, confirmed that the Taliban have not only made life difficult for filmmakers but also lack any economic plans to support their work. She added that under the Republic, filmmakers in Afghanistan held a respected and significant status. Now, the Taliban neither recognize nor respect these figures.
According to her, the importance of cinema and theater in Herat has been severely challenged, and as long as the Taliban remain in power, this dire situation will persist. Meanwhile, several Herat residents expressed their dissatisfaction with the closure of theaters, which has dampened the community’s spirits.
Jamshid, a resident of Herat, told RASC News Agency that the Taliban have turned all the joys of the people into sorrow. He added that during the Republic, people’s minds and thoughts were positively influenced by watching plays. Now, even viewing such performances on mobile phones is prohibited.
Despite numerous efforts, we could not obtain a comment from the Taliban.
