00:20Since Taliban took over the power in Afghanistan, you know that they literally banned women
00:26for most of the things, like they have banned schools on girls past grade six, and women are not allowed
00:34to work anymore.
00:35They're not even allowed to go to the park, you know, like simple things in life, they're not allowed to
00:43do it anymore.
00:44Obviously, besides my singing career, I am also an activist for women's rights in Afghanistan.
00:52And I thought, you know what, we need to stand against this injustice against Taliban, what they're doing.
01:01And so I thought initially it would be a great idea to do this ladies-only concert where we show
01:07the power of women,
01:10where we stand together as women and raise our voice and raise awareness against the injustices that's going on in
01:17Afghanistan.
01:28There's so much that I could do in my country, there's so much.
01:31But right now I am unable to do that because of the fact that I'm not allowed to go back
01:37to Afghanistan.
01:37I'm not allowed to physically be there, be on the screen of the TV, give out my messages, be that
01:43support and that hope for the Afghan women.
01:45I cannot do that anymore so much, but the one thing that I'm grateful for, the fact that we were
01:52able to establish the organization outside Afghanistan.
01:55I have this organization called DEFA, which stands for Defenders of Equality, Freedom and Advancement for Women.
02:05I speak to around 100 Afghan women or girls inside Afghanistan on a monthly basis through my organization, DEFA, through
02:15Zoom.
02:16And I actually get to speak to them, ask them questions, hear their stories.
02:20And I keep on telling them to not give up hope, to keep fighting, to keep fighting for the rights,
02:26to raise their voices and be hopeful.
02:29Because I honestly, I do feel from the bottom of my heart that these dark days will pass.
02:35They will not exist forever.
02:37This is at least as a human, this is what I think.
02:39Because what they have brought upon women in Afghanistan is, it's ridiculous and it's inhuman.
02:45And inhumanity and this kind of a life, I don't think it can last forever.
02:52People will eventually raise their voices.
02:55People will eventually stand up against them and justice will prevail.
03:00Maybe it will, I don't know when, maybe it will last another two, three, four, five years, but it cannot
03:04be forever.
03:05I don't believe that.
03:09I don't believe that.
