Afghan Idol Turns to Politics
Farida Tarana, 27, is infamous across Afghanistan for being the first female contestant from the conservative province of Herat to compete on "Afghan Star," the country's version of "American Idol." In 2006, her involvement on the show brought condemnation from the country's conservative faction, who follow strict social rules that outlaw women from singing in public.
Her experience breaking rigid social norms on the show led her to run for political office in Afghanistan's elections this year. Last week, Tarana won her bid for a seat on the Kabul Provincial Council, a legislative body similar to an American state legislature, reports Time.
"When I competed for 'Afghan Star,' I wanted to prove that a woman from Herat could sing," Tarana told Time. "Now that I have been elected to the provincial council, I will prove to people that a lady who can sing can be in politics as well."
Though the fairness of this year's election results have been called into question, the results from local elections show that Afghans are more involved in democracy and are far more progressive and liberal than is known. Scores of young Afghans ran for political seat this year, showing that the next generation of the country's leaders may be more interested in democracy than their predecessors.
"In provinces throughout Afghanistan, hundreds of youths nominated themselves for provincial councils," Sanjar Sohail, editor of the newspaper Eight in the Morning, told Time. "What does this mean? That the generation that grew up with war, that has seen the blood, the rockets, the shooting and the crime, they know that the situation in Afghanistan won't ever change unless they come to politics. They see their involvement as a responsibility. And that makes me hopeful for our future."
Provincial leaders like Tarana hold little actual power, but the symbolism of her election is striking. She sees her position on the Kabul Provincial Council as a first step in a longer political career ending, perhaps, with the presidency.
Read more at Time.com.