Female Afghans record themselves singing as a form of dissent against the Taliban's restriction on public musical performances.
A woman from Afghanistan is shown in a video, revealing only a small portion of her face: She, alongside numerous other women, are participating in an online protest against the "Moral" regulation imposed by the radical Islamic Taliban in Afghanistan, which prohibits women from publicly expressing themselves. In retaliation, women both domestically and internationally have uploaded videos onto digital platforms, where they sing and employ hashtags such as "#My voice is not forbidden" and "#No to the Taliban".
Polish ex-police officer Sala Sasai shared a video of herself singing a song by renowned singer Arjana Sajeed, speaking out against the constraints placed upon Afghan women. "The limitations on Afghan women are unjustifiable," stated Sasai.
"The Afghan women have recognized that adversaries of women can no longer infringe upon our fundamental rights under the banner of religion and customs," claimed Sasai. "And our voices, demanding our rights, will never be hushed."
In yet another video, reportedly taken in Afghanistan, a woman fully dressed in black with a face veil explains, "You have muted my voice for the foreseeable future (...) You have detained me in my home for the misdemeanor of being a woman."
Moreover, footage shows activist groups raising their fists or tearing up photographs of the Taliban's supreme leader, Hibatullah Akhundzada, who governs Afghanistan from the southern city of Kandahar.
The "Moral" regulation expands the authority of the morality police to implement the Taliban's ethical principles based on Islamic Sharia law. It encompasses requirements for women to veil themselves and a ban on homosexuality. It stipulates that "Muslim women are obligated to cover their face and body" when in the presence of unrelated men.
More specifically, it also specifies: "If an adult woman is compelled to leave her home due to an urgent matter, she is required to cover her face and body and ensure that her voice is not audible." The law refers to women's voices as "aurat" - a Sharia term denoting the intimate parts of men and women that must be concealed.
The Taliban faced intense international censure over the regulation. Taliban spokesperson Sabihullah Mujahid rebutted the criticism as representing "arrogance" and a misinterpretation of Sharia.
Women worldwide join the chorus against the Taliban's restrictions, with Sala Sasai among them, asserting, "Our voices, demanding our rights, will never be hushed." Despite the Taliban-imposed veil, an Afghan woman boldly declares, "You have muted my voice for the foreseeable future, but my fight continues."
