Renowned Afghan singer Jawid Amirkhail has announced that he has applied for asylum in Germany and will continue his music career in Europe.
In a public statement, Amirkhail bid farewell to the city of Peshawar and Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, reflecting on the journey he has taken since the Taliban returned to power in Afghanistan in August 2021.
According to the singer, he first relocated to Islamabad after leaving Afghanistan, later spent around seven months in Quetta, and eventually moved to Peshawar, a city he described as one of the most significant chapters of his life.
Amirkhail said he travelled to Europe in May to perform at a concert and decided during that visit to remain in Germany and apply for asylum. He described the decision as one of the most difficult of his life but did not provide further details about the reasons behind it.
The Afghan artist said he intends to continue producing music and performing for audiences across Europe while maintaining close contact with his fans around the world.
Since the Taliban regained control of Afghanistan, widespread restrictions on music and artistic expression have forced many Afghan musicians, performers and cultural figures into exile.
The Taliban have imposed sweeping restrictions on public music performances, the use of musical instruments and other artistic activities, prompting numerous Afghan artists to suspend their work or relocate abroad in search of safety and artistic freedom.
