Purple Saturdays Movement: Yalda Night as an Opportunity to Send a Message of Resistance and Protest Against the Taliban

In its latest statement, published on Wednesday (December 18), the movement invited all cultural figures, artists, poets, writers, social activists, women's protest movements, and other Afghan citizens to organize cultural and creative programs to amplify their message of resistance and protest against the Taliban.

The statement described the Taliban as a "anti-cultural and anti-civilization " group that, through repression and the instrumentalization of religion, seeks to destroy Afghanistan's cultural and identity foundations.

It emphasized that Yalda Night, as an ancient tradition symbolizing the victory of light over darkness and wisdom over ignorance, can be a clear message of hope and resistance for the people of Afghanistan against the Taliban.

The statement further declared: "The self-proclaimed Taliban regime, as an embodiment of tyranny and an architecture of oppression, is as fleeting as the darkest night."

The Purple Saturdays Movement called on the people of Afghanistan to demonstrate, through Yalda programs and celebrations, that the nation, especially its women, believes in the end of the current dark days and carries hope within despair.

The statement concluded by emphasizing that Yalda Night can serve as an opportunity to send a unified message of collective resistance against the Taliban and their tyranny to the global community. It also urged the international community to support the people of Afghanistan, especially women, vulnerable ethnic groups, and religious minorities.