8am: Several citizens of Afghanistan say that Nowruz symbolizes renewal, solidarity, and hope for them. They add that following the Taliban’s takeover, Nowruz traditions and customs among the people have faded. According to these citizens, Nowruz, which was once one of the most important traditional celebrations, has now turned into an ordinary day. Click here
8am: The annual Nowruz gathering has been held in the city of Dushanbe with the participation of a number of poets and cultural figures from Afghanistan, Iran, and Tajikistan. At the gathering, held on Thursday, March 19, several Afghan poets, including Latif Nazemi, Tania Aakafi, and Mozhgan Saghar, along with other cultural figures, participated. Click
Amu: Taliban have burned around 600 musical instruments in Parwan and Laghman provinces in the latest enforcement of their sweeping ban on music. The Taliban directorate vice and virtue in Parwan said it had set fire to about 500 instruments that had been collected over the past year from the provincial capital and surrounding districts.
Amu: Afghans across the country marked Yalda Night, also known as Shab-e Chella, the longest night of the year, celebrating a centuries-old tradition that many regard as a symbol of hope, patience and the belief that light follows darkness. Families in several provinces gathered late into the night, sharing food and conversation to honour the
Khaama: Vietnamese-American sculptor Tuan Andrew Nguyen will install an eight-meter replica of the Bamiyan Buddha along Tenth Street in Manhattan in spring 2026. Titled The Light That Shines Through the Universe, the sculpture is intended as a symbol of resilience, hope, and peace, commemorating the destroyed 6th-century statues in Afghanistan. The installation is part of
Khaama: This destruction follows a pattern: in recent years the Taliban has dismantled multiple cinema buildings across Afghanistan. In the Khairkhana district of Kabul, the historically significant Khairkhana Cinema was previously razed, with authorities announcing plans to build a mosque and a market on that site. Other cinemas in provinces such as Herat and Kandahar
By Zhakfar Ahmadi Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty December 11, 2025 The Afghan Taliban’s dreaded morality police have arrested four young men for dressing like characters from the British TV series Peaky Blinders. The men were detained in the western Afghan city of Herat this week. The Taliban accused them of “promoting alien culture” after photos went
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).
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).
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 ,