An Afghan woman has become the first to win a popular singing competition, with her victory coming as fears grow that women could lose hard-won rights if the US does a peace deal with the Taliban.
For the first time in 13 seasons of Afghanistan's televised singing competition -- Afghan Star -- a woman has emerged as the winner. Zahra Elham dedicated her win to all the girls in the embattled country.
According to The Washington Post report, Elham's high-pitched voice and calm demeanour kept the viewers hooked and their votes reserved for her.
"I popped the hearts of men out of their chests today," she said after picking up the winner's trophy on Thursday evening. "Today, I represent all the girls of Afghanistan. Today, not only Zahra Elham but all the girls in Afghanistan have won."
Zulala Hashemi was the first woman to make it to the final round of the singing competition in 2017. That year, a man Sayed Jamal Mubarez, won the trophy.
Afghan Star is a cause of friction between the younger generation of the country that wants opportunities and excitement of entertainment in their lives and conservative religious leaders who believe the show 'seduces the youth and pushes the country into a deeper crisis.'
Elham had to face backlash and nasty comments. But her she got through it all because of the support she gets from her family. In an interview with Al Jazeera, Elham said, "My father and mother were always encouraging me to become a singer. My mother encouraged me more than anyone, she encouraged me so much."
Elham's role models include Justin Bieber, Selena Gomez, and Aryana Sayeed, one of Afghanistan's most famous singers. Sayeed braves threats and endures scrutiny right down to her choice of clothes. Still, she returns often, as much to encourage women in a restrictive country as to share her music, a mix of pop and traditional songs.
The 2012 winner of Afghan Star, Navid Forogh was ambushed near his home in Kabul and he barely escaped death. In 2016, seven members of the TV station's staff were killed by militants in a suicide attack on a minibus, reports Washington Post.
As talks between Washington and the Taliban aimed at ending the long war progress, many Afghans fear a premature US withdrawal could see the Taliban return to some semblance of power.
Young women, keenly aware of how their gender was banished behind doors and beneath burkas under Taliban rule, are among the most vocal in warning they will not compromise their hard-won rights if the insurgents return.
The Taliban have given few details of what they want in Afghanistan, and it is unclear what a post-conflict government would look like -- but under their strict interpretation of Islam the militants have never been in favour of women, or shows like Afghan Star.
"Peace is on its way, hope the future peace has the Afghan Star contest in it," Mustafa Azizyar, the show's presenter said, after presenting the trophy.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
 "Zahra Elham")
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}