Kandahar: At the annual “Anar gul” poetry gathering in southern Afghanistan's historic city of Kandahar, Taliban officials denied reports that poetry events have been banned under their rule.
Speaking at the event, Deputy Minister of Information and Culture Atiqullah Azizi stated, “There is no ban on poetry gatherings anywhere in the country. Some biased media recently spread false propaganda claiming that poetry events in Afghanistan had stopped. But today, we all witnessed this gathering in Kandahar held to celebrate the Anargul season — isn’t this a powerful and historic response to the detractors?”
Azizi further noted that Taliban Supreme Leader Maulawi Hibatullah Akhundzada has devised a specific policy for poetry and literature, under which poems will be reviewed, but insisted there are no plans to ban or restrict poetry gatherings.
These remarks come weeks after a controversy during one of Afghanistan’s oldest traditional poetry gatherings, “Naranj Gul,” held in early April in Jalalabad. At that event, several poets recited critical verses, prompting the dismissal of Sajid Khogyani, the Taliban-appointed provincial director of Information and Culture in Nangarhar.
One of the poets, Matiullah Turab, directly addressed the Taliban leader during the gathering, saying, “If you want the country to run properly, come to Kabul.” -a criticism pointed towards the Taliban leadership living in Kandahar and issuing orders from Kandahar.
Later that gathering, Turab said he fears no one for speaking the truth and does not follow any political agenda against the Taliban.
Following the Jalalabad incident, reports emerged that the Taliban had begun imposing restrictions or outright bans on poetry events and literary circles across the country. Several spring poetry gatherings scheduled in various provinces were reportedly canceled this year.
In recent years, spring poetry events across Afghanistan had become platforms where poets and speakers openly criticized government policies and addressed national issues. Observers now say that under the Taliban’s Emirate rule, freedom of speech is increasingly restricted.
Nonetheless, during the Kandahar event, Taliban officials assured participants that they aim to better organize and support poetry gatherings, while keeping them within the framework of their cultural and ideological guidelines.
