The historic Ariana Cinema in Kabul, once a cultural landmark for Afghan film lovers, was demolished on Thursday to make way for a modern shopping mall. Built in the 1960s, the cinema survived decades of upheaval, including pillaging during Afghanistan’s civil war in the 1990s, before being restored by a French-led effort and reopening in 2004.
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Under the Taliban’s return to power in 2021, the cinema’s role shifted drastically. Films, music, and other entertainment were banned under the group’s strict interpretation of Islamic law. Ariana was briefly used for propaganda screenings before being permanently closed. On Thursday, bulldozers tore down its walls amid piles of rubble, and banners at the site announced the construction of a “standard modern market.”
طالبان یک سینمای تاریخی کابل را تخریب کردهاند تا جای آن یک مرکز خرید بنا کنند.
سینمای آرایانا که در دهه ۶۰ میلادی بنا شد، در جریان جنگ داخلی افغانستان در دهه ۹۰ میلادی تخریب شد اما بعد با کمک فرانسویها بازسازی و در سال ۲۰۰۴ میلادی، پس از سقوط نخستین حکومت طالبان دوباره افتتاح… pic.twitter.com/9Us8eeyvpq
— BBC NEWS فارسی (@bbcpersian) December 18, 2025
Many locals expressed sorrow at the demolition. A 65-year-old resident, who requested anonymity for security reasons, said, “It shattered my heart, the news of the demolition of the Ariana Cinema. We had a lot of good memories from the cinema.” She recalled the cinema’s heyday in the 1970s, when it screened Indian and Iranian films, later expanding to Russian, English, French, and other European movies.
The cinema had also been known for showcasing revolutionary and socially conscious films that resonated with the Afghan public. “People used to watch them with a lot of passion,” the resident said, highlighting the cinema’s role as a hub for cultural engagement and discussion.
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The demolition of Ariana Cinema marks another step in the erasure of Afghanistan’s pre-Taliban cultural landmarks. While the new mall aims to modernize Kabul’s commercial landscape, many fear that the city is losing an important piece of its artistic and social history.