Afghanistan
Nonviolent Protest History
2021–2022 Afghan protests (Wikipedia)
"Protests in Afghanistan against the Taliban started on 17 August 2021 following the Fall of Kabul to the Taliban. These protests are held by Islamic democrats and feminists. Both groups are against the treatment of women by the Taliban government, considering it as discriminatory and misogynistic. Supported by the National Resistance Front of Afghanistan, the protesters also demand decentralization, multiculturalism, social justice, work, education, and food. There have been pro-Taliban counter protests."
2014 Afghanistan protests (Wikipedia)
"The 2014 Afghanistan protests was a series of pro-government and anti-electoral fraud protests by hundreds, then tens of thousands of demonstrators from 21–27 June, during the 2014 Afghan presidential election campaigns taking place. Mass protests and Civil disobedience has rocked areas across Afghanistan in June, demanding free elections in support of the Democracy. Protesters rallied against blasphemy laws in October 2014, and a wave of protests also hit Afghanistan in March 2015. Protesters also protested against fraud and electoral suffrage and mistrust, rallying in support of main candidate Abdullah Abdullah and chanted slogans on 27 June. Protests did remain largely bloodless and led to no police intervention however."
1980 student protests in Kabul (Wikipedia)
"Large-scale organized protests by students in the city of Kabul, Afghanistan, paralyzed the education system and led to heavy clashes. The uprisings by students took place from late April to early June, 1980, demonstrating against the communist government of Babrak Karmal and the invading Soviet Union forces, calling for freedom and the withdrawal of Soviet forces. The protests were quelled and led to a large number of students being arrested, estimated between 400 to as many as 2000. Between 72 and 200 students lost their lives in the demonstrations".
Using Art and Music as Resistance
Artful Resistance: How Afghan Women are Wielding Art Against the Taliban (Harvard International Review, 3/2/22)
"Rada Akbar, an Afghan artist known for her visual art and photography, encourages the world to see the strength in Afghan women. Akbar’s work includes portraits of Afghan women, documentation of female resistance to the Taliban, activist messages, and powerful exposure of the dangers plaguing Afghan women." By Addie Esposito
#3 Women, Art & Resistance in Afghanistan | In Conversation with Shamayel Shalizi (Youtube, 8/25/21)
“Shamayel Shalizi is a Queer Multimedia Artist, a jewellery designer who grew up between the U.S.A, Russia & Afghanistan. With her art by exploring themes of the self, the "other", & Identity. She is a nomad but will always call Kabul her home”. Mainly audio, 45 minute run time.
Afghan artists react to the Taliban takeover (DW, 8/17/21)
"Particularly threatened by the Taliban, some artists are trying to destroy all proof of their work. Others are creating last pieces as a form of resistance." By Manasi Gopalakrishnan
Kabul's Female Graffiti Master | The Creators Project Meets Shamsia Hassani (Youtube, 3/7/2016)
Internationally recognized graffiti artist Shamsia Hassani shares her art as a vessel for change in Afghanistan.
Shamsia Hassani: The Afghan female graffiti artist capturing women's voices (DW, 8/19/21)
"Afghanistan's first female street artist depicts Afghan women as they face renewed Taliban threats. Despite the danger, she pursues her work of resistance." By Cristina Burack
Folk Songs as Communication, Resistance, Lament, and Entertainment Among Women in Northeastern Afghanistan (Edinburgh University Press, 12/12/21)
"In the northeastern provinces of Afghanistan, talented women sing folk songs to entertain each other in female-only gatherings on happy occasions. The songs are accompanied by a diara or daff, a colorful frame drum made of goat or cow skin. In private, women hum the songs and do not need musical accompaniment. Humming songs in private is likened to what Rumi called 'wailing of the broken heart,' or 'dard hay dilim,' as the women say in Dari, one of the languages used locally." By Teri Williams
Strength in Unity, Women Resist and Foreign Countries Stand
National Resistance Front of Afghanistan Reports: Anti-Taliban Resistance Leader, Commander Ahmad Massoud's Call to International Uprising Answered Globally (PRNewswire, 11/22/21)
"...on November 14, over 20 major cities throughout the United States, Europe, Australia, Canada, Argentina, and Kabul, Afghanistan, were met with thousands of protestors from nationalities of their respective countries, the Afghan diaspora, and Afghan refugees. Their uprising was an answer to a call of international uprising by their leader, Commander Ahmad Massoud of the National Resistance Front (NRF).” ByNational Resistance Front of Afghanistan: Yusuf Nazar
Afghanistan: women are at the forefront of protests against the Taliban (The Conversation, 9/13/21)
"Despite what they insisted as they swept through Afghanistan, the Taliban appear to have remained largely the same since the days they ruled the roost in the 1990s. But Afghan society has changed tremendously since they were ousted by the US-led invasion in 2001. This is shown by the level of civil resistance observed in the past few weeks, a resistance that has been primarily spearheaded by women." By Weeda Mehran