ALEP Hosts Panel Discussion on Freedom of Expression in Afghanistan

On Friday, February 24, 2017, Stanford Law School’s Afghanistan Legal Education Project (ALEP) hosted a panel discussion on “Freedom of Expression in Afghanistan,” with the members of popular Afghan band Kabul Dreams. The members of Kabul Dreams, Stanford law faculty and students, and members of the broader Stanford community engaged in a wide-ranging, substantive discussion that touched on a variety of issues, from the particular experiences of Kabul Dreams in achieving success to the history and current role of freedom of artistic expression in Afghanistan.

Kabul Dreams, an indie rock band, was started and gained popularity after the era of Taliban rule in Afghanistan. The Guardian has described Kabul Dreams’ music as “indie rock that is peaceful, wistful and positive, with shades of 90s Britpop and shoegaze,” and Kabul Dreams’ music is apolitical, emerging in the wake of the Taliban’s decades-long ban on all forms of music. Along with Afghan Star, a popular “Pop Idol-styled musical talent show,” Kabul Dreams represents a broader reinvigoration of music in Afghanistan.

The discussion focused on these themes, relating them to the band’s own experiences and the broader arc of political progress in Afghanistan. Sulyman Qardash and Siddique Ahmad, two members of the band, began the event by discussing the band’s origins, their work on Plastic Words, their first album, and their relationship to the American University of Afghanistan (AUAF) and its Music Club. They additionally touched on their future plans, their upcoming second album, and the uplifting, positive international reception they have received since debuting Plastic Words.

The discussion then turned to questions of freedom of artistic expression in Afghanistan. Mehdi Hakimi, Executive Director of the Rule of Law Program, addressed the constitutional framework governing the freedom of expression in Afghanistan, while Sayed Madadi, a commentator on Afghan politics and graduate student at Stanford, explained the current state of freedom of expression in Afghanistan. While the members were optimistic about instances of unfettered open criticism of the Afghan government within Afghanistan, such as Kabul Taxi, they also addressed continuing security challenges in relation to freedom of expression, such as the questions raised following the terrorist attacks on Tolo TV staff.

The event concluded with an overview of the history of the freedom of expression in Afghanistan, ranging from the crackdown on speech in the Taliban era to the years following Taliban rule, when arts and music programs were slowly rebuilt. However, the talk concluded on a light note with a viewing of a clip from the twelfth season of Afghan Star of Ziba Rahimi, one contestant, rapping about the plight of girls and women in Afghanistan. The members all concluded that there is reason for optimism about freedom of expression in Afghanistan, both understanding the challenges ahead and calling for more of the open dialogue that freedom of expression is intended to facilitate.

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ALEP Hosts Panel Discussion on Freedom of Expression in Afghanistan

About ALEP: Founded in 2007, the Afghanistan Legal Education Project (ALEP) at Stanford Law School develops innovative legal curricula to help Afghanistan’s universities train the next generation of lawyers and leaders. ALEP is one of the projects under Stanford Law School’s Rule of Law Program. For more on ALEP, see: https://law.stanford.edu/alep

About Rule of Law Program: Established in 1999, the Stanford Law School’s Rule of Law Program is the University’s vehicle for promoting the study and practice of international rule of law and development. The program serves as the scholastic and administrative umbrella for Rule of Law Projects in various countries. For more on the program, see: https://law.stanford.edu/rule-of-law-program/