As Afghanistan adjusts to Taliban rule, music goes silent

Even before the last U.S. flight left Kabul at midnight on Monday, many of the bright and flashy sights and sounds of city life in Afghanistan were changing as those left behind tried to fit in with the austere tone of their new Taliban rulers. So far, the Taliban have been at pains to show a more conciliatory face to the world, with no harsh public punishments and outright bans on general entertainment that characterized their last time in power before 2001.

They say cultural activities are allowed as long as they do not go against Sharia law and Afghanistan’s Islamic culture. In Kandahar, the movement’s birthplace, Taliban authorities issued a formal order against radio stations playing music and female announcers last week. Still, for many, no legal charge was necessary.

Colorful signs outside beauty parlors have been painted over, jeans have been replaced by traditional dress, and radio stations have replaced their regular menu of Hindi and Persian pop and call-in shows with somber patriotic music.

“It’s not that the Taliban ordered us to change anything. We have altered the programming for now as we don’t want the Taliban to force us to close down,” said Khalid Sediqqi, a producer at a private radio station in the central city of Ghazni. “Also, no one in this country is in the mood for entertainment; we are all in shock,” he said. “I am not even sure if anyone is tuning to the radio anymore.”

During the 20 years of Western-backed government, a lively popular culture grew up in Kabul and other cities with a mashup of bodybuilding, energy drinks, extravagant sculpted hairstyles, and jangly pop songs. Turkish soap operas, call-in programs, and television talent show like ‘Afghan Star’ became significant hits.

‘TOXIC‘

For senior Taliban, many were raised in religious madrassas, and with the experience of years of fighting and hardship, the change is overdue. “Our culture has become toxic; we see Russian and American influence everywhere, even in the food we eat; that is something people should realize and make necessary changes,” a Taliban commander said. “This will take time, but it will happen.”

Across the country, the change has been noticeable. While senior Taliban officials have said repeatedly their forces should treat the population respectfully and not hand out arbitrary punishments, many mistrust them or don’t believe they can control the footsoldiers on the streets.

“There is no music in all Jalalabad city; people are scared and afraid because Taliban are beating people,” said Naseem, a former official in the eastern province of Nangarhar.

Saifullah Sahel, a local journalist in Laghman province near Kabul, said the head of the Taliban’s local cultural commission told the state-run public radio and six other private stations to adjust their programming to ensure it was in line with Sharia law. Since then, music and political, cultural, and news programming unrelated to religious issues have dried up. But even where formal orders have not been issued, the message that the freewheeling era has ended and that it is safer not to stand out has been clear.

“I fear the Taliban may target me if I was seen wearing jeans or western shirts or a suit,” said Mustafa Ali Rahman, a former tax official in Lagman province. “One just doesn’t know what they can do to punish us.” A former civil activist in the northern city of Mazar-i-Sharif said shops and restaurants appeared to have decided for themselves and turned off their radios. “There is no warning about music, but people themselves have stopped,” he said.