The Score | Afghanistan National Institute of Music Closes, as Taliban Resumes Power

It’s hard to believe that less than a decade ago, young musicians from the Afghanistan National Institute of Music (ANIM) were making a splash with an international tour, including performances at the Kennedy Center and Carnegie Hall, and the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. The co-educational school—based in Kabul and founded in 2010 by Dr. Ahmad Sarmast and a symbol of gender equality in Afghanistan—closed its doors abruptly in August after the Taliban resumed power in the wake of the U.S. withdrawal of military forces. Many citizens fear they will be attacked or punished by the Taliban, given its history of punishment for those who practice nonreligious music. After more than a month of efforts on their behalf by many organizations around the world, in early October 101 students, former students, faculty and relatives of those who went to the school fled, arriving first in Qatar and eventually in Portugal, which has granted them visas. Many others have been unable to leave, with women, girls, journalists, musicians, and all those who helped the Americans during the war at particular risk. The League of American Orchestras is among American arts organizations actively engaging in an international effort to support music rights for the people of Afghanistan; draw attention to their plight with hashtags including #StandWithANIM; #MusicIsAHumanRight; #SupportANIM; #FriendsofANIM; #AfghanWomen; #AfghanMusic; and encouraging people to donate to the official U.S.-based nonprofit supporting the Afghanistan National Institute of Music here, with all donations going toward securing the safety of the school and student body.