Taliban Takes U-Turn? Music, Female Voices Banned On TV, Radio Channels In Kandahar: Reports

An unnamed insurgent in a video released by the Taliban announced the takeover of the city’s main radio station, which has been renamed the Voice of Sharia or Islamic law.

Taliban fighters stand guard at a checkpoint in a neighborhood in the city of Kabul. (PTI Image)

Kabul: Nearly two weeks after taking over effective control of Afghanistan, the Taliban have banned music and female voices on television and radio channels in Kandahar.

The Taliban seized a radio station in Kandahar and took to the airwaves on Saturday after capturing much of southern Afghanistan.

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An unnamed insurgent in a video released by the Taliban announced the takeover of the city’s main radio station, which has been renamed the Voice of Sharia or Islamic law.

He said all employees were present and would broadcast news, political analysis and recitations of the Quran, the Islamic holy book. It appears the station will no longer play music, AP reported.

It was, however, not clear if the insurgent group had removed the previous employees or allowed them to return to work.

The man in the video congratulated the people of Kandahar on the Taliban’s victory.

The Taliban have operated mobile radio stations over the years, but have not operated a station inside a major city since they ruled Afghanistan from 1996-2001.

The insurgent group also ran a station during the same time called Voice of Sharia out of Kandahar.

The Taliban, which confined women to their homes in the past tenure, was known for their harsh treatment of women which included covering their heads and being accompanied by a male family member every time they stepped out of their homes.