PESHAWAR: The Afghan media reported that a young man was killed by gunmen for listening music in Afghanistan’s Badakhshan area.
Reports said 19-year-old Wahidullah recently finished school and was in his village in Zargaran, Badakhshan when he was shot killed. The reports quoted sources saying that the militant first checked his smartphone and found that he was listening to music.
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Reports said that he was first tortured and then the militants opened as a result he was severely wounded. The victim was rushed to hospital in injured condition by the local people but he died on the way due to loss of blood. The Taliban have not yet commended on the incident.
On 1 November, the Taliban claimed to have arrested two militants after three wedding guests were allegedly shot killed for playing music in a wedding ceremony in Afghanistan’s eastern province of Nangarhar on Saturday night, the French News Agency, AFP, has reported.
The Taliban authorities in Kabul said that such killings are unacceptable and further investigation is underway to bring the perpetrators to justice. Local officials, eyewitnesses and the heirs of the dead have confirmed the incident to media persons after which the Taliban officials said that the incident was being investigated and no one would be allowed to take law into their hands.
Qazi Mullah Adil, spokesman for the Taliban governor in Nangarhar, had also confirmed the incident but did not provide further details. Security sources told that two militants who opened fire had been detained by authorities.
Zabihullah Mujahid, a spokesman for the Taliban government in Kabul, said he could not confirm the incident, but said it was not the Taliban’s policy to kill music listeners. “The investigation is ongoing. It may be the result of personal enmity.” Mujahid said it is not our right to barred anyone from listening or playing music. “We can only encourage the people to avoid music,” According to Mujahid, “The murderer, even if official, will be prosecuted in the court of Justice.”