Afghanistan Ban on Girls Singing: The education department in Afghanistan had banned teenage girls from singing. After massive outrage on social media, the ban was finally reversed.
The government's move was seen as an initial step to "talibanise" the country. Many individuals took to Twitter to express their disagreement with the government. They referred to the time when the Taliban had banned the participation of women in society outside their homes.
We raise our voices in protest against the extremist and discriminatory order of the Ministry of Education!#IAmMySong pic.twitter.com/EnfycjiMtf
— MyRedLine - خط سرخ من (@myredline_afg) March 12, 2021
This made the education ministry of the country release a statement that said that ban "does not reflect the positions or policies of the Ministry". It did little to curb the outrage as many women posted their videos on social media in which they were seen singing their favourite songs.
2days after Intl Women Day ‘21, the AFG Ministry of Education banned girls 12yo&up from singing in public. This violates national & int’l laws for basic human/universal rights. Join #IAmMySong and record a song in solidarity for AFG females music rights&freedom of expression pic.twitter.com/kRsW1rknmP
— Dr Ahmad Sarmast (@DSarmast) March 11, 2021
Shamila Kohestani, the Afghanistan football team's former captain, wrote, "In Afghanistan today the Ministry of Education suffocated the voices of our little girls by making it illegal for them to sing." She said that the country's authority is literally telling girls that they do not have a voice.
This discrimination will limit young girl’s opportunities and creativity, we must stop this Talibanization from taking place. It starts with music, but what will it end with? #IAmMySong
— Shamila Kohestani (@Sham_Kohestani) March 12, 2021
The hashtag #IAmMySong started getting popular on the social media platform as many women joined and tweeted their videos belting songs. Recently, many Afghan women who were public figures in the country were assassinated by the Taliban and it also included journalists. Read about it here.
The people of Afghanistan have a looming fear of the Taliban making its return to the country as the USA may pull its remaining troops back. The peace talks between the government and the Taliban have also been not a big success in the recent past.
This is Shahrbanu, she is 14 and she plays guitar & ukulele. She dedicates this English song to @hamidi_rangina in hopes she may understand better.
— نازیلا (@noonaleph) March 13, 2021
⁰“I don't think I could stand to be⁰Where you don't see me”#IAmMySong pic.twitter.com/tsl3XeAJzA