Taliban Bans Romantic and Critical Poetry Under New Law

Taliban Bans Romantic and Critical Poetry Under New Law
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Taliban leader Hibatullah Akhundzada has signed a new law banning romantic and critical poetry in Afghanistan, Amu TV reported. The “Poetry Regulation Law,” published in the official gazette on August 30, prohibits verses that praise romantic love, encourage relationships between men and women, or express personal emotions deemed inappropriate.

The law also forbids criticism of the Taliban leader’s decisions and calls on poets to promote Islamic values, spiritual discipline, and unity among Muslims. References to ideologies such as feminism, democracy, communism, or nationalism are also banned. Poets are specifically barred from writing content that encourages interaction or friendship between boys and girls.

The Ministry of Information and Culture will enforce the law through a committee that includes representatives from the Ministry for the Promotion of Virtue and the Council of Ulema. This body will oversee poetry events and has authority to censor content before publication. According to activists, the regulation adds to growing censorship concerns among Afghan writers and poets.