Taliban leader appeared to confirm on Wednesday that music in public will once again be banned in Afghanistan following the group's rapid takeover of the country in recent weeks.
Zabihullah Mujahid, a spokesman for the Taliban, in an interview with The New York Times, discussed how the Islamic group intended to run the country and sought to downplay concerns about the treatment of women and reprisals against those who worked with U.S. forces.
While women will eventually be allowed to return to work and go on trips to school, and hospitals, they would need a male chaperone for trips that last several days.
According to him, things will be different under this Taliban rule than the previous regime.
In reaction to reports that the Taliban is already extracting vengeance on those who opposed them, Mujahid said, "We want to build the future and forget what happened in the past."
He suggested that women will be allowed to return to their jobs in the future as long as they wear a head covering. He added that concerns that the Taliban would once again force women to stay inside or cover their faces are baseless.
He also addressed the issue of music in public, which was banned during the Taliban's previous stint in power between 1996 and 2001, suggesting it will soon be prohibited.
"Music is forbidden in Islam," Mujahid said.
"But we're hoping that we can persuade people not to do such things, instead of pressuring them," he said.
Mujahid is seen as a likely candidate for minister for information and culture.
When the Taliban came to power in Afghanistan in 1996, they banned almost all music, considering it sinful.
Cassette tapes were destroyed and strung up on trees, according to The Associated Press.
An exception was made for some vocal religious pieces, however. Afghan radio and TV stations have been playing only Islamic songs amid the Taliban takeover of the country.
