Art Blog #92

Protest Art - Shamsia Hassani

'Protest art is a specific genre of art that tackles social issues, sometimes witty, sometimes challenging and graphic, protest art is a powerful medium that highlights discrimination and injustice. I admire protest artists as they are using their technical skills and creativity for good.'

Afghanistan and Human Rights

The situation in Afghanistan worsened in 2024 as the Taliban authorities intensified their crackdown on human rights, particularly against women and girls. Afghanistan remained the only country where girls and women were banned from secondary and university education, while also facing significant barriers to employment and freedom of movement, assembly, and speech. The Taliban also detained journalists and critics and imposed severe restrictions on the media. Afghanistan’s economic crisis left 23 million in need of humanitarian assistance; women and girls were disproportionally affected.

Women’s and Girls’ Rights

Taliban edicts violated the rights of women and girls to education, employment, freedom of movement and expression. The Taliban have also dismantled protections for women and girls experiencing gender-based violence, created discriminatory barriers to their accessing health care, and barred them from playing sports and visiting parks. Strict hijab and mahram (male guardian) regulations have impeded women from traveling for work or to receive medical treatment.

www.hrw.org/world-report/2025/country-chapters/afghanistan

Shamsia Hassani (Quick Bio)

Born April 1988, is the first female graffiti artist of Afghanistan. Through her artworks, Shamsia portrays Afghan women in a male dominant society.

Her art gives Afghan women a different face, a face with power, ambitions, and willingness to achieve goals. The woman character used in her artworks portrays a human being who is proud, loud, and can bring positive changes to people’s lives. During the last decade of post-war era in Afghanistan, Shamsia’s works have brought in a huge wave of color and appreciation to all the women in the country.

Her artworks have inspired thousands of women around the world and has given a new hope to female Afghan artists in the country. She has motivated hundreds of Afghans to bring in their creativity through her graffiti festival, art classes, and exhibitions in different countries around the world.

www.shamsiahassani.net