Afghan Poets Alarmed as Taliban Strip Literature of Its Soul
The Taliban have imposed a new code of conduct on Afghanistan’s poets and writers, sparking alarm among intellectuals who see it as a direct attack on the country’s cultural heritage.
The “Code of Conduct for Poetry and Mushairas” consists of 13 strict rules, signed by Taliban leader Hibatullah Akhundzada. It bars themes such as love, friendship, and freedom, while requiring poets to glorify the Taliban leadership.
The Ministry of Justice clarified that criticism of the Taliban, discussion of relationships, or opposing views will not be tolerated. The law also bans content seen as undermining Islamic values or promoting ethnic and linguistic divides.
Organizers of poetry gatherings must obtain approval from the Ministry of Information and Culture, which will oversee events through a committee of officials and clerics empowered to censor work before and after recitals.
For centuries, Afghan poetry has celebrated love, longing, and the human spirit, with figures such as Rumi and Khushal Khan Khattak shaping the region’s literary identity. Writers now fear this legacy is at risk.
One Afghan poet in exile said the Taliban’s rules aim to reduce poetry to mere slogans of political loyalty. “They want to erase the emotional depth of our literature,” the poet remarked.
