In Afghanistan, concerns about the future rule of the Islamist Taliban, which has regained power, have led to widespread movement by citizens to refrain from music activities and entertainment prohibited by the former Taliban administration, and major cultural changes have begun to occur. Is.

The Taliban's interim administration has expressed its intention to guarantee women's education and employment within the scope of Islamic teachings, while reviving the Ministry for the Propagation and Discipline, which closely monitored the behavior of citizens during the former Taliban administration. Concerns about future governance are widespread among the citizens.



Under these circumstances, there were a series of movements to refrain from the once-banned music activities, and many bands playing traditional music at weddings and the like also stopped their activities.



Earlier this month, singer Anne Unger, who lives in the capital Kabul, was confiscated by Taliban fighters after being accused of "Islamic teachings do not allow music to be played."



Annene complained, "I can't live without a song. I've only done the job of a singer, so I don't know how to make a living from now on."



In addition, Kabul's cafe, where you can enjoy trendy music, has been crowded with a large number of customers for more than 10 years, but after the Taliban regained power last month, citizens were wary of crackdowns, and the number of customers went away.



The cafe manager lamented, "Sales have dropped by 70%. Political changes have stopped customers from coming."



In addition, the cafe, which offered hookah popular with young people, was closed because the owner fled the country for fear of being blamed by the Taliban.



"It was a place of entertainment for young people, but things have changed. All 35 employees have lost their jobs," said the man who was in charge of the store manager.



The Taliban's interim administration has so far not given an official view on the regulation of entertainment such as music activities and movies, but citizens' anxieties and vigilance remain strong, and there are major cultural changes in their lives. It's starting to happen.

Many musicians escape abroad

The Taliban banned music activities during the former administration, which lasted five years from 1996, due to an extreme interpretation of Islamic teachings.



Twenty years ago, when the former Taliban administration collapsed, music activities resumed, and bands playing traditional music were called at weddings and other occasions, returning to the habit of enjoying singing and dancing.



However, since the Taliban regained power last month, these bands have stopped receiving work requests and many music agencies have been closed.



Many musicians have already fled the country, and signs have been broken or painted in the multi-music agency building in the capital Kabul.



Kabul-based singer Anne Unger, 28, has earned a living from her grandfather's generation, but earlier this month, Taliban fighters stopped her on the streets, saying, "Islamic teachings allow music to be played. It means that the instrument was confiscated as "not done".



Anneal said, "I told the Taliban,'If the music doesn't work, give me a job.' I can't live without a song. I've only done the job of a singer, so I don't know how to make a living from now on." I was talking.



After that, Anneal was afraid of being blamed by the Taliban and was very worried about the future rule of the Taliban because he destroyed and discarded all the instruments he had at home.

Taliban The idea of ​​allowing entertainment within the teachings of Islam

The Taliban have expressed the idea of ​​allowing entertainment within the scope of Islamic teaching, and the amusement parks and zoos in the capital Kabul are beginning to return to the bustle of families.



Of these, at the amusement park, Taliban fighters with guns were seen looking around the park, getting into the playset of cars, and enjoying shooting with toy guns.



At the zoo, Taliban fighters were also seen walking around the zoo, watching lions and camels.



The leader of the Taliban fighters who visited the zoo said, "It is within the scope of Islamic teaching to see and enjoy animals, so I hope you enjoy it."