Taliban Government To Ban Music In Afghanistan, Speaks On Women Covering Themselves

The Times reports that the Taliban government has said it will ban music in public in Afghanistan because the movement considers it un-Islamic.

This is despite the assurances given by the Taliban group that it will be more liberal than it was 20 years ago.

The Taliban spokesman, Zabihullah Mujahid, told the New York Times that while women will eventually be allowed to return to work and go on trips to school, and hospitals, they would need a male chaperone for trips that last several days.

He added that music will be banned in the country.

He said, "Music is forbidden in Islam, but we're hoping that we can persuade people not to do such things, instead of pressure them."

According to him, things will be different under this Taliban rule than the previous regime.

In reaction to reports that the Taliban is already extracting vengeance on those who opposed them, Mujahid said, "We want to build the future and forget what happened in the past."

He suggested that women will be allowed to return to their jobs in the future as long as they wear a head covering. He added that concerns that the Taliban would once again force women to stay inside or cover their faces are baseless.

He also said those with proper travel documents will be able to leave the country, and that his regime will not hunt down former interpreters and others who have worked with the American military over the years.

Muhajid, however, expressed frustration at American evacuation efforts.

He said, "They shouldn't interfere in our country and take out our human resources: doctors, professors and other people we need here. In America, they might become dishwashers or cooks. It's inhuman."

But, he said he was still hopeful that the Taliban could build good relationships with the international community, saying they have already cooperated with international leaders on issues like counterterrorism, opium eradication and the reduction of refugees to the West.

Mujahid's remarks came a day after he announced at a press conference that women should remain inside "until we have a new procedure" in place, while the Taliban trains its forces not to harass women.

He said, “We are worried our forces, who are new and have not been yet trained very well, may mistreat women. We don't want our forces, God forbid, to harm or harass women."

He noted that women's salaries will be paid in their homes, echoing what Ahmadullah Waseq, the deputy of the Taliban’s cultural affairs committee, told the Times: that the Taliban has "no problems with working women" as long as they wear hijabs.