Afghanistan is witnessing a wave of harsh measures by the Taliban targeting both individual freedoms and cultural practices. In separate incidents over the past week, the Taliban Supreme Court publicly flogged seven individuals in Sar-e Pol and Maidan Wardak provinces, while dozens of musical instruments were confiscated and burned in Maidan Wardak markets.
According to Afghan media outlets, four men and three women received between 25 and 39 lashes and were sentenced to one to three years in prison on charges described as illicit relationships. The Supreme Court’s actions coincided with International Human Rights Day, highlighting the contrast between global norms and the Taliban’s enforcement methods.
Meanwhile, the Taliban’s Department for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice reported the destruction of 160 musical items, including drums, tablas, rubabs, a piano, MP3 players, tape recorders, and hookahs. The items were allegedly used to promote music and “un-Islamic activities,” and their burning forms part of the group’s ongoing restrictions on public cultural life.
Since regaining power, the Taliban have imposed strict limits on music and cultural expression, extending to weddings and other celebrations, reinforcing a rigid moral and religious framework.
Human rights groups and international observers have repeatedly condemned such measures as violations of basic rights and freedoms, raising questions about the Taliban’s commitment to pledges made to the global community. Critics ask how the group can claim to consider inclusive governance, respect for women, press freedom, and international norms while continuing to carry out severe corporal punishment and cultural suppression.
The combined actions underline a pattern of stringent control over both personal liberties and public cultural life, reflecting the challenges Afghanistan faces under Taliban rule.
