Afghan musicians mourn abandoned instruments after Taliban takeoverbr br Musical instruments have been off limits since the Taliban came to power in Afghanistan. Though the Taliban has yet to announce its official policy on music, spokesman Zabihullah Mudjahid told the New York Times in August that "music is forbidden by Islam". Devastated 18-year-old Bahar (not her real name), who plays the alto violin, said: "I feel like I'm not living anymore. I'm alive but the Taliban took my soul.