RASC News Agency: Local sources in Panjshir report that the Taliban have detained and imprisoned five of their own local members in the Dara district for attending a wedding ceremony where music was played. The Taliban reportedly deemed their participation in an event featuring music as a violation of the group’s strict decrees. According to sources, the incident occurred last week in the Malima area of Dara district during a “henna night” and wedding celebration.
The five detainees are said to be members of the Taliban’s local police force in Panjshir. They were arrested the following day by the Taliban’s district security command. The Taliban justified the arrests by citing the act of listening to music at the ceremony as a breach of their imposed moral codes. This incident is not an isolated case. The Taliban have previously arrested and mistreated their local members in Panjshir under various pretexts.
A Taliban insider in the Dara district, speaking on condition of anonymity, stated: “The Taliban do not trust their local members and often perceive them as unreliable or disloyal.” The source added that many of these arrests stem from a deep-seated mistrust and accusations of insubordination among their ranks. The Taliban officially confirmed the arrests, asserting that the five individuals were detained specifically for listening to music.
Music has traditionally been an integral part of Afghanistan cultural celebrations, particularly weddings. However, since their return to power, the Taliban have declared music forbidden, strictly banning its performance and consumption. In the past three years, multiple reports have emerged of the Taliban violently disrupting wedding ceremonies due to the presence of music, further reflecting their rigid enforcement of cultural prohibitions.
