Is there any political creed current and with influence in the world today that is more inimical to happy human existence than Islamism? In Malakand, in the north west of Pakistan, Taliban-backed militants have managed to squeeze concessions out of the government. This will not be the end of it, as emboldened by this capitulation, the militants seek ever greater concessions in ever greater areas of the country.

The chilling effect on cultural life is evident as already Peshawar has become too dangerous for entertainers to work in.

As Taliban militants gain a stronger hold in this region of Pakistan, they are imposing their view that music, singing and other such arts are un-Islamic. Several entertainers have been kidnapped or killed, while many others have fled, quit or watched their work opportunities dwindle. Criminal gangs seeking to extort money are also suspected of involvement as overall security deteriorates...

..."What can I do?" asked Zardad Khan, a popular 4-foot-2-inch comedic actor who has received several telephone threats. "I'm trying to bring smiles to the society and the people, but my life is getting more miserable with each passing day."

Khan said he used to have roles in five or six movies a month. But in the last four months, he's had only one — and he had to travel to Lahore for production because it's too unsafe to film in Peshawar.

"If we get killed, no one cares," he said.

Can anything more adequately sum up the bleakness, the greyness, the unremitting misery of Islamist rule than the banning of music, poetry, film, dance, comedy...