Taliban morality enforcers in northern Faryab province have raided wedding halls under the guise of enforcing their religious code, disrupting ceremonies and detaining relatives of brides and grooms, local sources said.
The Taliban’s Ministry for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice is sending its female agents to wedding parties to record music or filming, sources said.
The Taliban’s morality enforcers then storm the venues, halt the celebrations and demand musical instruments and cameras, according to witnesses.
Residents said Taliban officers often locked wedding hall doors during the raids, insulted families and used abusive language. In several cases, fathers, brothers and other close relatives of the couple were arrested.
A video shared with local media shows Taliban forces in Maimana, the provincial capital, detaining the groom’s father and two of the bride’s relatives over the use of music and filming at a ceremony.
This comes as Taliban have imposed many restrictions on the people basic freedoms, including on music. Under their rule, playing music at wedding ceremonies has been banned.
