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For years now, Angelina Jolie has been known for her passion for human rights activism, especially regarding women’s rights. In light of the recent occupation of Afghanistan under the Taliban, the actor has taken it upon herself to create awareness for women who have been stripped of their basic rights of living.
Yesterday, Jolie shared the street art and fashion work of two Afghan women on her Instagram, stating, “In honor of #Afghanwomen and their struggle for equality and dignity and freedom, I’m sharing, with their permission, the work of two amazing female Afghan artists whose work I love, Shamsia Hassani and Rada Akbar.” The Instagram post featured eight slides—four dedicated to street art by Shamsia Hassani, and four highlighting tailored dresses by Rada Akbar. The works seem to speak volumes about the Afghan woman’s struggle with the symbolism of imprisonment and lack of freedom.
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Acting as a voice for Afghan women, Angelina Jolie also shared a post on Instagram that featured excerpts from a letter that was sent to her by a woman who is currently in the midst of the storm, unable to speak up, protest, or step outside. “A young woman in #Afghanistan sent me this letter. I’m protecting her identity, but she hasn’t been able to go back to school since the Taliban seized power,” Jolie wrote in the caption of the post.
“I feel like women don’t have any right to speak or put their word forward,” the heart-wrenching note read. “The rights of the woman are taken away from them and they are not allowed to do anything in the country. Few weeks back when the Taliban arrested 2 of the women who raised their voices in order to ask for the rights of woman and freedom, I just thought, that this is the end and I might never be able to go outside again or even be able to speak as I am a Girl.”
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Angelina Jolie’s post has already received thousands of likes and shares, proving the importance of using one’s platform to spotlight global issues. One of the most common responses the star’s posts have received is of gratitude, with fans thanking her for using her voice to help others.
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