The Afghanistan National Institute of Music (ANIM), operating in exile, issued a strong condemnation of the Taliban’s systematic repression of cultural rights in Afghanistan on Human Rights Day, urging the international community to take decisive action.
In a statement, the institute described cultural rights as an integral part of human rights and a vital tool for fostering national identity and social cohesion. The Taliban’s policies, it argued, have targeted these rights, contributing to a broader assault on human rights in the country.
“The systematic violation of cultural rights in Afghanistan under the Taliban is an attack on the soul of the nation,” the statement said.
A call for global solidarity
The institute called on the global community and human rights organizations to explicitly denounce the Taliban’s actions and exert diplomatic and practical pressure to restore the cultural rights of Afghans. It also urged support for artists, musicians, and cultural activists facing direct threats under Taliban rule.
The statement reaffirmed ANIM’s commitment to preserving and promoting Afghanistan’s cultural heritage and human rights, emphasizing that music and the arts remain symbols of creativity, hope, and national identity.
The institute warned of the risk of Afghanistan’s cultural heritage being forgotten under the current regime and appealed for increased international efforts to safeguard the nation’s artistic and cultural traditions.
“Music and the arts are the beacons of a nation’s soul, and their preservation is essential for its future,” the statement read.
Since the Taliban returned to power in August 2021, cultural rights have been severely curtailed, with music banned and artists subjected to threats, arrests, and violence. Critics view these actions as part of a broader agenda to suppress freedom of expression and cultural diversity.
