Videos of Taliban members dancing and celebrating, contrary to their own leader’s strict laws, have sparked reactions among Afghan citizens.
The British newspaper The Telegraph reported that these videos show Taliban officials in Afghanistan dancing to music, both of which were banned in a severe crackdown when the group returned to power.
The Telegraph released images of Taliban members in Herat dancing and listening to music while armed with military equipment. The footage shows the fighters dancing in a public area in the presence of ordinary people.
The report also quoted a Taliban official in Helmand province who admitted that members danced and celebrated the birth of their commander’s son at a security checkpoint. “When my commander’s son was born, we celebrated by dancing in our police station’s courtyard,” the official said.
Citizens have criticized the Taliban for imposing restrictions on the public while their members dance and enjoy music in public. A resident of Herat recounted that the Taliban arrested her fiancé during their engagement party for playing music. He was later released after mediation by local elders and providing a guarantee bill.
“On my wedding day, after the Taliban entered the wedding hall for inspection and saw that music was being played, they arrested my fiancé and two or three others and detained them for several hours until they were released after mediation by elders and providing a guarantee,” the Herat resident said. “Music is not allowed at events, but they themselves dance and play music in public without any concerns.”
“The Taliban has declared music forbidden in Afghanistan. However, they themselves listen to music in mosques, in cars, and at their own occasions, including weddings,” said Mohammadullah, another resident of Herat.
The video shows Taliban members performing the traditional dance “Attan.” Some citizens criticized the Taliban, stating that its members do not respect the month of Muharram or honor the beliefs and traditions of the country’s citizens.
“The rejection of music by the Taliban leader has been made clear to the public, but the Taliban soldiers behaved as if they never accepted their imaginary leader’s instructions,” said Halima Pazhwak, a civil activist. “Today, we are in religious days that belong to all Muslims around the world, but we witness Taliban soldiers dancing and celebrating across the country, which shows that the Taliban has no belief in Islam and does not value its own laws.”
Since taking over Afghanistan in August 2021, the Taliban has repeatedly burned musical instruments in various provinces. On Monday, the Taliban’s Department of Vice and Virtue in Sar-e Pul province announced that it had set at least 100 types of musical instruments on fire.
