Women in Afghanistan record themselves singing as a form of resistance against the Taliban's restriction on public speeches.
A lady from Afghanistan, identified only by a hint of her face in a video clip, joins various other women in an electronic protest against the "Virtue" ordinance enforced by the radical Islamic Taliban in Afghanistan. This legislation prohibits women from expressing themselves publicly. In response, women both within and beyond Afghanistan's borders have uploaded videos onto online platforms, where they sing, using hashtags like "#MyVoiceIsNotBanned" and "#NoToTaliban".
Former Afghan police officer Sala Sasai, now dwelling in Poland, posted a video of herself singing a song by renowned Afghan singer Arjana Sajeed. Sasai expressed her disapproval of the restrictions placed on Afghan women, stating, "The limitations on Afghan women are indefensible."
Sasai further asserted, "The Afghan women have recognized that adversaries of women can no longer deny our fundamental rights under the guise of religion and culture." She maintained, "And our voices, advocating for our rights, shall never be suppressed."
In another reported video, shot presumably in Afghanistan, a woman cloaked in black with her face concealed under a veil laments, "You have muted my voice for a substantial period (...) You have confined me to my house as a consequence of being female."
Additional footage captures groups of activists showcasing defiance by raising their fists or tearing up photos of Taliban leader Hibatullah Akhundzada, who governs Afghanistan from the southern city of Kandahar via decree.
The "Virtue" legislation enhances the authority of the Taliban's morality police to enforce the conduct protocols, based on Islamic Sharia law. This law encompasses veiling requirements for women and a ban on homosexuality. It declares, "Muslim women are obliged to cover their face and body" when in the vicinity of men not directly related to them.
In particular, it also states: "If an adult woman needs to leave her house for an urgent reason, she is required to cover her face and body and ensure that her voice is not heard." This law refers to women's voices as "aurat" - a term in Sharia that signifies the intimate parts of men and women that must be concealed.
The Taliban drew intense international criticism for this legislation. Taliban spokesman Sabihullah Mujahid attributed such criticism to "arrogance" and a misunderstanding of Sharia.
Other women outside Afghanistan, inspired by Sasai and the electronic protest, started sharing their own videos using the same hashtags, showcasing their support and solidarity with Afghan women fighting for their rights. The other women acknowledged that the suppression of women's voices is a global issue, not just limited to Afghanistan, and expressed their desire to join forces to promote gender equality worldwide.
