Full Breakdown
Afghan Taxi Drivers Defy Taliban Music Ban in Kabul
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event: Drivers Play Music Despite Prohibition
Taxi drivers in Kabul have begun playing Afghan folk and pop songs inside their cabs, even though the Taliban’s Propagation of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice (PVPV) Ministry has banned music in public spaces since 2021. Drivers such as 28-year-old Roeun admit they lower the volume or switch off the music when approaching checkpoints to avoid confrontation with the morality police, who patrol the city in long white coats.
Background & Context
Since the Taliban seized power in 2021, public venues—including restaurants, cafés and shops—have been limited to religious or patriotic songs. Violations of PVPV rules can result in imprisonment, although the ministry declined to comment on specific penalties for music offenses.
Drivers’ Tactics and Voices
“At every checkpoint we pass, we lower the volume of the music or even turn it off completely... so I don't get into trouble with them,” — Roeen. after a quiet morning. A second driver, who asked to remain anonymous, only listens when alone in the car and has been stopped twice for possessing a USB stick and a memory card. “I prefer music in the car, because wearing headphones would be noticed, but in the car, even with lower volume is better than nothing,” — Shamsullah Ahmad.
Official Statements & Responses
PVPV ministry spokesman Saiful Islam Khyber confirmed that provincial departments occasionally burn seized instruments but provided no figures on how many have been confiscated. The ministry did not respond to inquiries about the specific punishments drivers face for playing music.
Impact and Cultural Significance
In a city lacking formal public transport, shared taxis are a primary means of travel, making them a visible venue for cultural expression.