Afghan Women Raise Their Voices in Song, Defying Taliban’s Silencing Edicts

Kabul, Afghanistan – In defiance of restrictive Taliban rules, a growing number of Afghan women are courageously using their voices in song, challenging an oppressive silence imposed since the Taliban’s takeover in August 2021. Under the Taliban’s stringent interpretation of Sharia, women are expected to adhere strictly to policies that limit their visibility and participation in public life, including bans on singing in public. This prohibition has unduly affected female singers and artists who find themselves silenced, their careers and passions stifled by a regime that dismisses their rights. Despite these constraints, many Afghan women … Read more

Taliban’s Discriminatory Gender Policies Disqualify Them as Afghanistan’s Legitimate Government, Says Afghan Legal Scholar

KABUL, Afghanistan — The Taliban’s reestablishment of control over Afghanistan following their seizure of Kabul on August 15, 2021, has raised questions about their legitimacy as a government under international law. The Taliban’s dismal record on human rights, particularly their discriminatory gender policies, has drawn criticism from legal scholars who argue that these policies disqualify them from being recognized as the country’s legitimate government. According to Afghan legal scholar Haroun Rahimi, the Taliban’s ability to be recognized as a government hinges on their willingness to adhere to modern-day international human rights law. However, their commitment … Read more