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Kabul's Iconic Ariana Cinema Demolished: A Cultural Loss

12/26/2025

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Summary

Story summary

The Ariana Cinema in Kabul was demolished on December 16, 2025, to make way for a new shopping center.
Opened in the 1960s, the cinema was a cultural hub screening Bollywood and Hollywood films.
Amir Shah Talash, Afghan film director, lamented the demolition, saying it symbolizes the erasure of Afghanistan's artistic heritage under Taliban rule.
Since 2021, the Taliban have imposed entertainment restrictions, contributing to cinema closures.

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Story summary

The Ariana Cinema in Kabul was demolished on December 16, 2025, to make way for a new shopping center.
Opened in the 1960s, the cinema was a cultural hub screening Bollywood and Hollywood films.
Amir Shah Talash, Afghan film director, lamented the demolition, saying it symbolizes the erasure of Afghanistan's artistic heritage under Taliban rule.
Since 2021, the Taliban have imposed entertainment restrictions, contributing to cinema closures.