Taliban have detained at least 25 people in Afghanistan’s northeastern Takhar province for playing music at a private gathering, local sources said.
The arrests took place overnight in Khwaja Ghar district, where residents had gathered at a house and were playing musical instruments and singing, the sources said. Taliban told those detained that the activity had disturbed local residents.
According to the sources, the group was arrested by members of the district police command under Taliban control and transferred to an undisclosed location. It was not immediately clear how long they would be held or whether formal charges had been filed.
Taliban officials have not publicly commented on the incident.
Since returning to power in August 2021, the Taliban have imposed sweeping restrictions on music and other forms of entertainment, banning public performances, music at weddings, and the playing of music in vehicles. Taliban leaders say the measures are based on their interpretation of Islamic law.
Human rights groups say such arrests reflect a broader campaign by the Taliban to enforce strict social rules and curb personal freedoms. The United Nations and international rights organisations have repeatedly criticised the Taliban for restrictions on cultural life and civil liberties, particularly in rural areas where enforcement is often harsher.
