A Popular Afghan Singer Challenges the Taliban With Song
NYT: After living for decades in exile, chased by war and religious bans, Naghma persists in singing to her people. Click here to read more (external link).
Category Archives: Art and Culture
Afghan filmmaker Roya Sadat wins international award in Canada
Amu: Afghan filmmaker Roya Sadat has received an international award at the International Film Festival of South Asia (IFFSA) in Toronto for her latest work, Sima’s Song. Sadat, one of Afghanistan’s most acclaimed directors, was honored for her contributions to cinema and her continued storytelling under challenging circumstances. Click here to read more (external link).
Taliban Leader Outlaws Criticism & Love Poetry Under New Law
Afghanistan International: The Ministry of Justice said Saturday the new legislation, published in the official gazette, sets out 13 articles regulating poetry gatherings. The law prohibits any criticism of Akhundzada’s orders and decisions and bars verses praising “boys and girls” or encouraging friendship between them. It also demands poetry be free of “worldly love ,
Taliban begin rebuilding monument to poet Alisher Nawa’i after backlash
Amu: Taliban have begun rebuilding the monument of Ali-Shir Nawa’i, a famed 15th-century poet and scholar, in the city of Mazar-e-Sharif, Balkh province, after its demolition drew strong criticism from cultural figures and Uzbekistan’s government. The monument, located in Mazar-e-Sharif, was torn down this week, prompting outrage from local communities, Afghan civil society groups, and
Taliban’s Hostility Toward Persian Language: Journalists at Some Media Outlets Face Pressure
8am: Some journalists working in media outlets controlled by the Taliban have complained about discriminatory treatment toward the Persian language. They state that some media managers, driven by a desire to curry favor with the Taliban and linguistic biases, have used the group’s name to justify efforts to eliminate Persian words. These journalists highlight instances
Taliban Arrest Five in Takhar Province for Playing Music
8am: Local Taliban officials in Takhar have reported that five individuals have been arrested in the province for playing music. Nizamuddin Umair, the spokesperson for the Taliban’s provincial police command in Takhar, stated on Saturday, 21 June 2025, that these individuals are residents of Taloqan, the capital of Takhar. Click here to read more (external
Taliban Burns Over 100 Musical Instruments In Afghanistan’s Laghman Province
Afghanistan International: According to local Taliban officials, at least 109 musical instruments were collected over the past several months from various celebratory gatherings and subsequently burned. On Monday, officials in Alingar released images showing the public incineration of the items, which included drums (daff), guitars, loudspeakers, and other musical equipment. Click here to read more
Taliban dismantle Afghanistan’s decades-old national film institution
Amu: Taliban have dissolved the Afghan Film Organization, once the country’s only state-run film body, and closed its offices, according to four sources, including two familiar with the agency’s operations. No formal statement has been issued by the Taliban. However, staff have been informed that the institution’s structure has been nullified and its operations halted.
After Fleeing The Taliban, Afghan Musicians In Pakistan Fear For Their Future As Deportation Looms
By RFE/RL’s Radio Mashaal, Wasim Sajjad, Muhammad Zawar and Will Tizard April 19, 2025 When the Taliban seized control of Afghanistan in 2021, they quickly banned music, declaring it un-Islamic. Musicians faced threats, raids, and the destruction of their instruments. “Our homes were searched for what we had there,” says Faiz Muhammad Sakhki, an Afghan musician
Afghan Opposition Marks Nowruz With Renewed Calls To Resist Taliban Rule
Afghanistan International: Several Afghan opposition leaders used Nowruz to urge unity and resistance against the Taliban. They called for an end to “tyranny and oppression” and pledged to work towards a democratic and inclusive government. Abdul Rashid Dostum, former vice president and leader of the National Islamic Movement of Afghanistan, said in his Nowruz message