Taliban control reshapes Afghan cinemaCEFR A2
15 Jan 2026
Adapted from Hasht-e-Subh Daily, Global Voices • CC BY 3.0
Photo by Sohaib Ghyasi, Unsplash
Since August 2021 the Taliban have changed cinema and cultural life in Afghanistan. They removed many films and TV series from broadcasters, closed cinema halls and banned many cinema activities. A directive on 21 November 2021 led to the widespread removal of women from the media.
Historic venues were affected: on 22 March 2023 a historic cinema was demolished and on 26 September 2023 another was leased. On 13 May 2025 the state film body was officially dissolved.
An investigation by a local newspaper reports worry about the national film archive and says the Taliban have made several films and one TV series without women, which experts call propaganda. Many filmmakers live in exile and face hard conditions.
Difficult words
- directive — an official instruction from authorities
- broadcaster — a company that shows TV or radiobroadcasters
- demolish — to destroy a building or structuredemolished
- lease — to let someone use property for paymentleased
- dissolve — to officially end an organization or groupdissolved
- archive — a place where historical records are kept
- propaganda — information made to influence people's beliefs
- exile — living away from your home country
Tip: hover, focus or tap highlighted words in the article to see quick definitions while you read or listen.
Discussion questions
- How can closing cinemas change cultural life in a city?
- Why do you think experts call films made without women propaganda?
- Have you ever watched a film in a cinema? What was it like?
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