In a move that has struck a chord with many Afghans, the Taliban administration has demolished a historic cinema hall in the heart of Kabul. The Ariana Cinema, a long-standing landmark in the Afghan capital, was razed to the ground by bulldozers, marking the end of an era for a venue that once symbolized art, culture, and public entertainment.
The Fall of a Cultural Beacon
The Ariana Cinema had been closed since 2021, the year the Taliban returned to power in Afghanistan. During its operational years, it was a central hub for film enthusiasts in Kabul. After the takeover, it only opened on rare occasions, primarily to screen propaganda films approved by the new regime. Despite its dormant state, the building's prominent presence in the city center served as a powerful physical reminder of a different time—a time of artistic expression and communal leisure for the people of Afghanistan.
A Witness to History's Shifting Tides
The cinema's story is intertwined with the nation's turbulent modern history. It stood through decades of conflict and change, witnessing the country's profound metamorphosis. For generations, it was more than just a building; it was a repository of shared memories and cultural identity. Its destruction by Taliban bulldozers is seen by many observers as a deliberate act to erase symbols of a secular past and to solidify the hardline group's control over the cultural and social landscape of the capital.
Reactions and the Erasure of Memory
The demolition has sparked a wave of sadness and nostalgia among Afghans, both within the country and in the diaspora. Social media has been flooded with posts mourning the loss, with many sharing personal stories of visits to the Ariana Cinema. The act underscores the ongoing transformation of Afghanistan's urban and cultural spaces under Taliban rule, where public venues associated with entertainment and Western influence are systematically removed or repurposed. The empty space where the cinema once stood now represents a physical and symbolic void in Kabul's cityscape.
The event was reported by the International New York Times on 24 December 2025. The report highlights how the destruction of such landmarks is not merely about buildings but about dismantling the tangible connections people have to a collective history that diverges from the Taliban's prescribed narrative. The loss of the Ariana Cinema is a potent symbol of the broader cultural restrictions imposed since the regime's return, affecting film, music, and public gatherings.
