the Taliban, like ISIS; foreign video stores, movies and music are prohibited

A blockade that had a serious impact, especially on the economy of families. More than 400 businesses closed, some merchants losing the investment of a lifetime. Others see escaping abroad as the only solution. Taliban representative: Promoted Indian and Western values ​​and culture, women did not wear hijab.

Herat () – Following in the footsteps of the Islamic State in Mosul during the years of jihadist rule, the Afghan Taliban in Herat have banned music, foreign films and video games, imposing strict application of Sharia, Islamic law. This decision had a serious impact not only on the social life of citizens, who were used to greater freedom in the previous period, but also caused considerable damage to the economy and the activities of hundreds of merchants, who saw their investments vanish and a lifetime savings. As in the case of Humayun, 28, who had invested almost 10,000 euros in opening a game room in the western city of Afghanistan almost four years ago.

At first, the investment had paid off, as the powerful consoles in the business attracted many young people who spent their savings to play the latest versions of the most popular video games. Everything changed in August 2021, when Koranic students took over Kabul and obscurantist norms such as the ban on female education or the severe restrictions on women’s work in local and international NGOs active in the country returned.

Rising unemployment and a severe economic downturn hit Afghans hard, including potential shoppers in a city of half a million people. To aggravate the situation, last week the Taliban decreed the “game over” for Humayun and many other merchants like him, who bolted their gaming room. A closure that was preceded by the ban decreed by the Ministry for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice, which labeled as “non-Islamic” the foreign films, music and video games.”This business was my life,” the young Humayun told Radio Azadi“and now I have no source of income or means of subsistence.”

The Taliban decree, which came without warning, led to the closure of more than 400 businesses in Herat alone and follows a crackdown on various forms of entertainment, including closing outdoor spaces for women and families. In October, the Islamic extremist movement shut down cafes offering hookahs, the consumption of which is a popular pastime among Afghan men, across the country. Earlier, in May, they had banned men and women from eating together in restaurants in Herat and closed women-owned and run restaurants in the city.

The impact of the restrictions on activities is evident in Herat, a former center of cultural and intellectual life in the Muslim world, strategically located at the crossroads of routes and trade with Iran and Turkmenistan. Before the Taliban’s return to power, Hazratha Market was the city’s gaming center. In addition, dozens of shops along narrow streets sold foreign movies and TV series on DVD, as well as Indian, Iranian and Western music.

Now there is a surreal silence in the market area and almost all the shops are closed. “Here I have nothing left, I have no choice but to go to another country,” confessed a former businessman named Fakhruddin. His business sold movie posters, DVDs, and music CDs. He had invested just under three thousand dollars to get it up and running, but now the business is doomed. I have to support a family of 11 people,” he confessed, “and this store was my only source of livelihood.”

Mawlawi Azizurrahman Mohajir, the provincial head of the Taliban ministry that controls morals and customs, responded to the criticism by pointing out that the closure of the halls and shops is the result of complaints from many families. As he reported, children spend -or rather lose- too much time locked up, neglecting other more important aspects. “These stores sold films that represented and promoted Indian and Western values ​​and culture, which are very different from Afghan culture and traditions.” “And the films in the catalog did not have women in hijabs, which is against sharia,” he added, referring to the strict interpretation of the Islamic dress code. This is the reason why it was banned for sale.”