According to the Afghanistan National Institute of Music, the Afghan government has just decided to forbid girls above the age of twelve singing in public - even their own national anthem.
From James Ross, Director of Ulysses Arts:
'A dreadful kick in the teeth for civilised values from the government of Afghanistan. To deprive people of the right to make music because they happen to be women smacks of Taliban barbarism. If individuals wish to see making music through the lens of a false and perverted interpretation of religion, that is their right, but they have no business imposing their idiotic prejudices on others in the form of tyranny. The Afghanistan National Institute of Music has worked tirelessly to advance education and culture for the people of Afghanistan, sometimes amid great personal danger, injury and sacrifice, and we should all show the country's government the contempt in which we will hold them if this decision is not reversed.
Regardless of the rights and wrongs of foreign intervention in Afghanistan, many British soldiers died or were seriously injured for a cause they believed was to bring a better life to the Afghan people. This decision also insults their memory, and those of many people of multiple nationalities who have died trying to achieve this aim.'
Ulysses Arts has been proud to collaborate with the Afghanistan National Institute of Music: while as a Company we want to bring together and support musicians around the world regardless of politics, we wish to voice our support and solidarity with ANIM on this issue.
From James Ross, Director of Ulysses Arts:
'A dreadful kick in the teeth for civilised values from the government of Afghanistan. To deprive people of the right to make music because they happen to be women smacks of Taliban barbarism. If individuals wish to see making music through the lens of a false and perverted interpretation of religion, that is their right, but they have no business imposing their idiotic prejudices on others in the form of tyranny. The Afghanistan National Institute of Music has worked tirelessly to advance education and culture for the people of Afghanistan, sometimes amid great personal danger, injury and sacrifice, and we should all show the country's government the contempt in which we will hold them if this decision is not reversed.
Regardless of the rights and wrongs of foreign intervention in Afghanistan, many British soldiers died or were seriously injured for a cause they believed was to bring a better life to the Afghan people. This decision also insults their memory, and those of many people of multiple nationalities who have died trying to achieve this aim.'
Ulysses Arts has been proud to collaborate with the Afghanistan National Institute of Music: while as a Company we want to bring together and support musicians around the world regardless of politics, we wish to voice our support and solidarity with ANIM on this issue.