Link to article: https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2021/mar/16/music-is-my-life-ban-on-schoolgirls-singing-in-afghanistan-met-with-protest
Government appears to backtrack on decree after women take to social media to sing in defiance under #IAmMySong hashtag
Last week Kabul’s Education Department announced that girls aged 12 and above could no longer sing at public events, unless the events were attended by a majority of women. They also stipulated that girls couldn’t be trained by a male music teacher. The reason for this decision was to allow students to focus more on their studies. However, the announcement sparked outrage, many accusing the government of sympathising with the Taliban, and of promoting gender discrimination. In protest, women from across the country recorded videos of themselves singing and posted them on social media using the hashtag #IAmMySong.
This week a statement from the ministry said the letter did not reflect its position and that it would assess the issue. The founder of the Afghanistan National Institute of Music, Ahmad Sarmast, started the #IAmMySong campaign, urged the ministry directly, to repeal the previous order officially. Women in Afghanistan express themselves through music, many using it as an outlet or coping mechanism in times of war and violence. Maram Abdallah, 18, a pianist to graduate from Afghanistan’s National Institute of Music, said she had to already fight to play due to her family’s conservative attitudes. She stated that it took her over a year to convince her father to let her play the piano again and when she did she, “came back to life right then,”. Since then she has performed around the world, including Australia and the UK.
Heather Barr, and interim co-director of the women’s rights Human Rights Watch stated that the Afghan government had introduced some “incredibly misogynistic” policies. Also claiming they, “are natural allies of the Taliban’s worldview in the government,”. During the Taliban rule of Afghanistan from 1996-2001, girls were not allowed to attend school and music was outlawed nationwide.
As Afghanistan is ridden with conflict and violence, and burddened with a continuous dark history, music has since been a peaceful place of outlet, and has allowed those who have suffered within the nation to calm and relax themselves with something beautiful and passionate. Once again the Taliban can be seen through the Afghanistan government as it tries to completely ridden its people of all happiness and spot of comfort. Even if the ministry begins to roll back on its decision, it will not be the last time that the government attempts to enforce laws and rules which supress the women of Afghanistan. This act continues to show the international community and surrounding nations, the power that reigns within the Taliban as they are easily allowed to violate the Afghan constitution and child protection laws. As those from the outside look within the nation, one can only hope for peace, yet peace seems like something that is unacheivable for the nation.