In response to a new law imposed by Afghanistan’s Taliban rulers that further silences women, Afghan women have turned to music and poetry as a form of resistance. The law, which restricts women’s voices and public presence, has led to secret gatherings where women express their defiance through artistic means.
Adilah, a former law student from Kabul, organized one such protest. She and other activists, many of whom she met after the Taliban took control of Kabul in August 2021, have been working to resist the regime’s oppressive measures. The Taliban has enforced severe restrictions on women, including bans on higher education, employment, public appearances without a full-body covering, and travel without a male guardian. The new law adds further restrictions, such as prohibiting women from speaking loudly or singing in public.
Adilah described the pain of hearing about the new law: “We had anticipated such measures, but the announcement was still very painful.” Since the Taliban’s rise to power, public protests have become increasingly dangerous, forcing many women into hiding or exile.
To protest the new law, Adilah and eight other women held a covert meeting in Kabul. They gathered in various locations, with some attending in person and others joining remotely from Pakistan and other places. They created a collaborative poem from contributions by each woman, blending existing verses with newly written lines that reflect their situation. Adilah recited these poems in Persian, a language of Afghanistan, highlighting themes of defiance and freedom.
The women recorded themselves singing the poems and compiled the recordings into a single video. This video was then shared on social media and among various chat groups. Adilah emphasized that singing became their form of resistance, demonstrating their fearlessness in the face of the Taliban’s repression.
This form of protest has inspired similar actions globally. In France, Afghan athlete Marzieh Hamidi launched the #LetUsExist campaign on social media. Hamidi’s campaign encourages Afghan women and their allies to speak out against the Taliban’s efforts to suppress women’s voices. Hamidi criticized both the Taliban and international governments that engage with or remain silent about the Taliban’s actions.
The campaign quickly gained traction, with many women posting videos and using protest hashtags online. Some, like Adilah and her group, had to conceal their identities with veils or face masks while protesting, while others did not.
Taiba Sulaimani, a student activist, shared her own defiant song in Persian. She described her song as both a protest and a hopeful expression of her desire for freedom. Sulaimani, who was among the first to protest in the streets after the Taliban takeover, faced significant risks. Her activism led to her brothers’ detention by the Taliban and her own subsequent flight from Afghanistan.
Sulaimani expressed concern that the new law could become a deeply ingrained part of Afghan culture, affecting future generations. Adilah echoed this sentiment, highlighting the law’s repressive nature and its potential to empower men further. She raised concerns about domestic violence and the practical challenges women face without male guardians.
Adilah also noted the hardship for women who have lost male relatives to violence, questioning their ability to survive under the new restrictions. She compared the situation to a “gradual death,” suggesting that women in Afghanistan have fewer rights than even the deceased.
The creative and courageous responses of Afghan women illustrate their ongoing struggle against increasing oppression under the Taliban. Their use of music and poetry serves as a powerful testament to their resilience and resistance.