Three folks have been shot lifeless at a marriage ceremony in Afghanistan’s Nangarhar province after a row erupted over whether or not music could possibly be performed, residents mentioned.
Ten others have been injured in Friday’s assault, that adopted an altercation between the assailants and residents of Sarkharod city, two residents informed NBC Information.
The 2 mentioned that they acknowledged the gunmen as native Taliban members.
The gunmen “have been harsh of their arguments with the household holding a wedding ceremony and native residents,” one of many Sarkharod residents mentioned, talking on the situation of anonymity as a result of he fears the Taliban will kill him if he speaks brazenly to the press.
“Their arguments led to an armed conflict,” he mentioned, including that the gunmen “opened hearth and killed three folks and injured 10 others,” he added.
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Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid denied that the attackers have been members of the group in an announcement Saturday. However he confirmed that three armed males had killed three folks and injured 10 after demanding {that a} marriage ceremony occasion cease enjoying music in Nangarhar.
The Taliban had arrested one particular person and efforts have been underway to arrest the opposite two assailants, he mentioned.
Individually nonetheless, a member of Taliban’s intelligence division informed NBC Information that the attackers have been members of the group. He spoke on the situation of anonymity as a result of he was not licensed to speak to the media.
The Taliban swept again to energy in August, after having been toppled by United States-led forces in 2001 within the wake of the 9/11 assaults when the group refused to disclose the placement of Al Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden.
Regardless of pledges of moderation because it retook management of the nation, the group which arrange an interim authorities final month, have unleashed a broad and, at instances, brutal crackdown as they’ve tried to drive many Afghans to stick to their strict interpretation of Islam.
Journalists have been crushed whereas doing their jobs, women have been requested to not attend faculty till circumstances permitted their return, and tons of of Hazara households have been forcibly evicted from their properties, sparking fears that an ethnic minority focused by the earlier Taliban regime is being persecuted once more.
There may be presently no official ban on music in Afghanistan however the Taliban have began an consciousness marketing campaign to elucidate to people who listening to music is in opposition to Shariah, or Islamic legislation, Taliban spokesman Bilal Karimi mentioned Saturday.
“In some locations our Taliban members use drive to cease folks listening to music however we are attempting to keep away from such incidents,” he mentioned.
In contrast, two senior Taliban leaders in Kabul informed NBC Information that music is banned in Afghanistan and that anybody who violates the restrictions shall be “handled” underneath Shariah legislation.
The Taliban leaders, who spoke to NBC Information on situation of anonymity as a result of they weren’t licensed to temporary the press, didn’t give particulars on what the punishment for listening or enjoying music could be.
Music was banned when the Taliban enforced a brutal rule over Afghanistan between 1996 and 2001, which additionally noticed minorities focused and ladies stripped of just about all of their rights. The arms of thieves have been minimize off and adulterers have been stoned.
Over the following 20 years, freedom improved dramatically in lots of — principally city — components of the nation. Girls returned to the workplace and women to the classroom. Conventional and fashionable music was additionally broadly performed.
Many Afghans stay determined to depart the nation, which is dealing with meals shortages, as they worry restrictions on private freedoms will solely tighten because the Taliban consolidate management.
