Musicians flee Afghanistan fearing Taliban

More than 100 music students and teachers fled Afghanistan on Sunday from Kabul, fearing a crackdown on music by Taliban, New York Times reported.

The musicians were affiliated with the Afghanistan National Institute of Music that became a target of the Taliban in part for its efforts to promote the education of girls. Ahmad Naser Sarmast, who opened the school in 2010, said that it’s a big step and a huge achievement that Afghan musicians have been rescued from the cruelty of Taliban. He now lives in Australia.

Sarmast said that the group comprises of both women and girls and they are planning to fly to Portugal with the support of the government there.

Supporters of the school, global network of artists, philanthropists, politicians, and educators, plan to continue to work to get the remaining musicians out of Afghanistan.

“The mission is not complete,” said Sarmast. “It just began,” he added.

Since August when the Taliban consolidated their control of the country, a large number of Afghan musicians have fled the country.