Five years after fleeing Afghanistan when the Taliban regained power, pop star Aryana Sayeed is returning to European stages with a series of concerts designed exclusively for women. The tour, titled "Ladies Only," kicks off this Friday at the Laurenskerk in Rotterdam, followed by stops in Stockholm on 5 September, Hamburg on 26 September, and Wiesbaden on 3 October.
Sayeed, who rose to fame as a singer and television personality, including as a judge on The Voice Afghanistan, has become one of the most prominent voices for Afghan women's rights from exile. Her organisation, DEFAW (Defenders of Equality, Freedom, and Advancement for Women), works to support women and girls inside Afghanistan, where the Taliban have imposed severe restrictions on their lives.
A platform for the voiceless
In an interview with Euronews Culture, Sayeed explained the motivation behind the women-only format. "Since the Taliban took over, they literally banned women from most things," she said. "They have banned schools for girls past grade six, and women are not allowed to work anymore. They are not even allowed to go to the park."
The idea for the tour came to her shortly after the fall of Kabul. "I thought, we need to stand against this injustice," she said. "A Ladies-Only concert where we show the power of women, where we stand together as women, and raise our voice against the injustices that are going on in Afghanistan."
Sayeed's concerts are more than musical performances; they are gatherings for Afghan women in Europe to connect, share experiences, and feel a sense of solidarity. The venues, from the historic Laurenskerk to halls in Stockholm, Hamburg, and Wiesbaden, will host audiences that are exclusively female, a deliberate choice to create a safe space for expression and remembrance.
Her influence in Afghanistan remains significant, even from afar. "I know that the things I have been doing for the past 15 years have been quite effective," she said. "It has been able to give so much hope to the hopeless women of Afghanistan." Through DEFAW, she maintains contact with women inside the country, hearing their stories and offering support. "What they tell me is heartbreaking," she admitted.
The tour comes at a time when the international community is grappling with how to engage with the Taliban. The EU's approach has drawn sharp criticism, and the International Criminal Court's investigation into Taliban abuses remains a focal point. Sayeed hopes her concerts will keep the spotlight on the crisis, which has seen one million Afghan children facing life-threatening malnutrition.
Despite the challenges, Sayeed remains defiant. "You can't completely silence voices like yours," she said, addressing the young girls who still follow her online. "The one advice I constantly give them is not to give up hope."
Her European tour is not just a series of concerts; it is a statement that Afghan women's voices will not be erased. As she takes the stage in Rotterdam, she carries with her the hopes of millions who cannot be there in person.
