The Taliban’s de facto government has demanded that those operating wedding halls in Kabul not play music at the events and prevent any activity contrary to its rulings under its own interpretation of Islamic law on events.

In a press release posted on its website, the Ministry for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Moral Decay said its decision was announced at a meeting with owners of halls where events, especially wedding ceremonies, are held.

It was emphasized to the owners of funeral halls that they must strictly implement the government’s decisions, according to the same source.

Last year the Taliban advised businessmen in the industry to avoid the music, but did not impose an outright ban everywhere.

Hall weddings are generally rare, due to the high cost of the events, which is prohibitive for most Afghans. Many young couples would like to organize their weddings in such halls, but they cannot.

The manager of a luxury Kabul ceremony hall assured the German Agency on condition of anonymity that his business made sure to have separate rooms for men and women, waitresses and women in charge of taking pictures in the women’s room, so that he would not be accused of insulting the morals of conservative society.

But “if we don’t have music at a wedding, then what’s the difference between a wedding and a funeral?”, he asked.

The Sunni fundamentalist Taliban movement considers music to be contrary to the teachings of Islam.

After the Taliban recaptured power in Afghanistan on August 15, 2021, many artists, especially musicians, fled their country and sought asylum in Western countries.