No Music Sounds In Afghanistan

JAKARTA - Before the last US flight left Kabul at midnight Monday, August 30, many of the striking sights and sounds of Afghan city life were even beginning to change.

Those still in the country are trying to adjust to the resolute style of their new government, the Taliban.

Launching Antara, Tuesday, August 31, the Taliban has so far been trying to show a more calming face to the world.

There are no harsh punishments displayed in public and no ban on public entertainment as they did when they were in power, before being overthrown by Allied forces in 2001.

Cultural activities are allowed, they said, as long as they do not violate Islamic Sharia law and Afghanistan's Islamic culture.

Taliban authorities in Kandahar, the movement's hometown, issued a formal order last week banning radio stations from playing music and the voices of female broadcasters.

But for most people, they don't need formal orders.

Colorful billboards in front of beauty salons have been repainted, jeans have been replaced with traditional clothes, and radio stations have changed their broadcast menus to Hindi and Persian pop music, and somber patriotic music.

"It's not that the Taliban ordered us to change anything, we are changing the program now because we don't want the Taliban to force us to stop broadcasting," said Khalid Sediqqi, producer of a private radio station in the city of Ghezni.

"Besides, no one in this country is interested in seeking entertainment, (because) we are all in shock," he said.

"I'm not even sure anyone is turning on the radio right now."

During 20 years of living under a Western-backed government, popular culture thrived in Kabul and other cities with gyms, energy drinks, trendy hairstyles and blaring pop tunes.

Soap operas from Turkey, on-call radio programs, and television talent shows such as 'Afghan Star' became popular among the people.

"Poison"

For the Taliban's top brass, who grew up mostly in madrasas and endured difficult years as a result of the war, the change is seen as overreaching.

"Our culture has been poisoned, we see Russian and American influences everywhere even in the food we eat, something the public should be aware of and need to change," a Taliban commander said.

"It may take some time but it will happen."

Across the country, change has been seen. While Taliban officials have repeatedly said their troops should respect the population and not punish arbitrarily, many residents do not believe they are capable of controlling members at the bottom.

"There is no music in the whole city of Jalalabad, people are scared and worried about being hit by the Taliban," said Naseem, a former official in the eastern province of Nangarhar.

Zarifullah Sahel, a local journalist in Laghman province near Kabul, said the head of the local Taliban culture commission told state radio stations and six private radio stations to adapt their broadcasts to be in line with Sharia law.

Since then, music programs and news, political, and cultural programs that are not related to religious issues have been discontinued.

Yet even though the formal order had not yet been issued, the message was clearly read: the era of freedom was over and it was safer not to stand out.

"I fear being targeted by the Taliban if I am seen wearing jeans or Western clothes," said Mustafa Ali Rahman, a former tax officer in Lagman province.

"No one knows what they might do to punish us."

A former civic activist in the northern city, Mazar-i-Sharif, said shops and restaurants appeared to have agreed to turn off the radio.

"There was no warning about music, but we were the ones who stopped it ourselves," he said.