Silence envelops eastern Afghanistan's biggest city as zealots wage war on music

[Ropey]

A CAMPAIGN of bombings aimed at people selling music and films is threatening to close every music shop in eastern Afghanistan’s biggest city.

Owners of music shops in Jalalabad have been hit by 21 bombs in the past year, forcing dozens to close or change their trade in a city renowned for its poetry and song.

Shop owners said they had received no threats before the attacks. The campaign had been denied by the Taliban, who outlawed music during their five-year regime.

However, the shop owners said they suspected religious extremists had gained influence as security in the province of Nangahar continued to worsen.

Khalil Rehman, a 32-year-old father of three, was sitting on a mat in the back of his shop drinking tea with friends two months ago when an unseen attacker threw a bomb inside.

Abdul Ghani Lewani, the 33-year-old head of shopkeepers in the street, said a year ago there had been about 60 music shops in Jalalabad. The city is famed for Pashtun singers and its most famous current exports are Latif Nangahari, Baryalai Samedi and Din Mohammad Ghamkhar.

Pashai Music Centre sold cassettes and CDs until two months ago. The sign has now been taken from the awning and is hanging at the back of the whitewashed shop. It is split from an early morning blast which destroyed much of the stock.

The shop has changed its name to Watan Mobile Sales and rows of cassettes have been replaced by a sparse selection of mobile phone accessories.

“We have no idea who did it and we didn’t have any threats,” said Arifullah Sadaat (23) who ran the shop with his 13-year-old brother Shawkat. “We decided we had to change, but . . . we can’t pay the rent with what we sell now.”

As the shops close, silence is falling over the city, said Mr Rehman. “My house is close by here and two years ago, each night the sound of music was coming from a party or a wedding. Day by day that is finishing.”

Music? Enjoyment? Banned by Islam?

Absolutely no music, no song, no dance, no enjoyment, is the Islamic way of life. And art is utterly banned. What kind of culture is that?

Islamic art is renowned for its beauty. It is manifested in buildings, architecture, calligraphy, arabesque, etc. The art that is not allowed is that which depicts living creatures, profanity or blasphemy. Music is not forbidden. Dancing is allowed in the privacy of people’s homes. Only vulgar or blasphemous lyrics and dancing are not allowed. Islam wants to protect people from sin without depriving them of good fun.

And when the fun is considered sinful by Islam (which is pretty much everything that is fun). Dancing is allowed in private only?

Why are art and music banned in Islam? « Fun « Understand Islam

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/world/2011/0611/1224298737576.html

 

[geauxtohell]

A CAMPAIGN of bombings aimed at people selling music and films is threatening to close every music shop in eastern Afghanistan’s biggest city.

Owners of music shops in Jalalabad have been hit by 21 bombs in the past year, forcing dozens to close or change their trade in a city renowned for its poetry and song.

Shop owners said they had received no threats before the attacks. The campaign had been denied by the Taliban, who outlawed music during their five-year regime.

However, the shop owners said they suspected religious extremists had gained influence as security in the province of Nangahar continued to worsen.

Khalil Rehman, a 32-year-old father of three, was sitting on a mat in the back of his shop drinking tea with friends two months ago when an unseen attacker threw a bomb inside.

Music? Enjoyment? Banned by Islam?

Absolutely no music, no song, no dance, no enjoyment, is the Islamic way of life. And art is utterly banned. What kind of culture is that?

Islamic art is renowned for its beauty. It is manifested in buildings, architecture, calligraphy, arabesque, etc. The art that is not allowed is that which depicts living creatures, profanity or blasphemy. Music is not forbidden. Dancing is allowed in the privacy of people’s homes. Only vulgar or blasphemous lyrics and dancing are not allowed. Islam wants to protect people from sin without depriving them of good fun.

And when the fun is considered sinful by Islam (which is pretty much everything that is fun). Dancing is allowed in private only?

Why are art and music banned in Islam? « Fun « Understand Islam

Silence envelops eastern Afghanistan's biggest city as zealots wage war on music - The Irish Times - Sat, Jun 11, 2011

It's their country. They get to make the rules.

 

[High_Gravity]

Music is considered haram by Islamic extremists, in Iran music is outlawed and you cant play music loud in your car, the only music they allow are tapes of sermons from the Quran.