The war in Afghanistan is having the greatest effect on the country’s civilians. Afghan women have often been the target of the violence. Years ago, the Taliban leadership banned music and education for girls. The Taliban also restricted outdoor activities when it was controlling much of Afghanistan. Today, some young Afghans are using music to spread a message of hope and peace. The young musicians are part of a new orchestra, known as Zohra. The group was created in 2014 as part of the Afghanistan National Institute of Music in Kabul. Ahmed Naser Sarmast is the institute’s director and founder of the orchestra. The name Zohra comes from a music goddess in Persian literature, he notes. Most of the orchestra’s members are young girls. They are using the power of music to help ease tensions and work in support of women's rights. Negin Khpolwak is Zohra’s first female conductor. She told VOA that Afghanistan has taken steps to support women’s rights over the past 17 years.
Title: Afghan Musical Group Working to Overcome Violence, Social Pressure
Content: <div id='article-page'><div id='article-content' data-media-url='//news-app-staging.s3.amazonaws.com' data-base-url='//news-app-staging.herokuapp.com' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/2850/733b04b6-6aee-4dbe-a1d0-4a28a085aac0_hq.wav' data-capture-url='//staging.analytics.lingraphica.com/events/capture_news' data-article-title='Afghan Musical Group Working to Overcome Violence, Social Pressure' data-article-id='3416'><script src='//news-app-staging.herokuapp.com/javascripts/getscripts.js'></script><link rel='stylesheet' href='//news-app-staging.herokuapp.com/stylesheets/article.css' type='text/css' /><div class='article'><p><span data-start-time='0' data-end-time='6688'>The war in Afghanistan is having the greatest effect on the country’s civilians.</span> <span data-start-time='6688' data-end-time='11125'>Afghan women have often been the target of the violence.</span> <span data-start-time='11125' data-end-time='18708'>Years ago, the Taliban leadership banned music and education for girls.</span> <span data-start-time='18708' data-end-time='27500'>The Taliban also restricted outdoor activities when it was controlling much of Afghanistan.</span> <span data-start-time='27500' data-end-time='35625'>Today, some young Afghans are using music to spread a message of hope and peace.</span> <span data-start-time='35625' data-end-time='41521'>The young musicians are part of a new orchestra, known as Zohra.</span> <span data-start-time='41521' data-end-time='50938'>The group was created in 2014 as part of the Afghanistan National Institute of Music in Kabul.</span> <span data-start-time='50938' data-end-time='58563'>Ahmed Naser Sarmast is the institute’s director and founder of the orchestra.</span> <span data-start-time='58563' data-end-time='65583'>The name Zohra comes from a music goddess in Persian literature, he notes.</span> <span data-start-time='65583' data-end-time='70063'>Most of the orchestra’s members are young girls.</span> <span data-start-time='70063' data-end-time='77771'>They are using the power of music to help ease tensions and work in support of women's rights.</span> <span data-start-time='77771' data-end-time='83229'>Negin Khpolwak is Zohra’s first female conductor.</span> <span data-start-time='83229' data-end-time='92333'>She told VOA that Afghanistan has taken steps to support women’s rights over the past 17 years.</span> </p></div><div class='control-buttons-sticky' style='display:none;'><div class='control-buttons'><button title='Back' class='back' disabled='disabled'></button><button title='Play' class='play' disabled='disabled'></button><button title='Pause' class='pause' style='display:none;'></button><button title='Forward' class='forward' disabled='disabled'></button><button class='finished-reading' style='display:none;'>Done</button></div></div></div><div id='article-media'><div id='media-image'><img src='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/2850/049c7ad4-9034-4909-8665-a51399649518_tv_w1080_h608_s.jpg'/></div></div><div id='question-content' style='display:none;'><div class='vocabulary_question question-container' data-question-id=11659 data-hint-location='35625' style='display:none;'><div class='question' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/2850/what_is_an_orchestra.wav'>What is an orchestra?</div><div class='choices' data-correct-choice='a group of musicians who play usually classical music together and who are led by a conductor'><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/2850/a_group_of_musicians_who_play_usually_classical_music_together_and_who_are_led_by_a_conductor.wav'><span>a group of musicians who play usually classical music together and who are led by a conductor</span></div><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/2850/a_group_of_acrobats_who_are_led_by_a_coach.wav'><span>a group of acrobats who are led by a coach</span></div><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/2850/a_group_of_teachers.wav'><span>a group of teachers</span></div><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/2850/a_group_of_salesmen.wav'><span>a group of salesmen</span></div></div></div><div class='multiple_choice_question question-container' data-question-id=11660 data-hint-location='11125' style='display:none;'><div class='question' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/2850/years_ago_the_taliban_leadership_banned_what_and_education_for_girls.wav'>Years ago, the Taliban leadership banned what and education for girls.</div><div class='choices' data-correct-choice='music'><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/2850/music.wav'><span>music</span></div><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/2850/reading.wav'><span>reading</span></div><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/2850/dancing.wav'><span>dancing</span></div><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/2850/running.wav'><span>running</span></div></div></div><div class='sentence_completion_question question-container' data-question-id=11661 data-hint-location='70063' style='display:none;'><div class='question' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/2850/they_are_using_the_power_of_music_to_help_ease_tensions_and_work_in_support_of__blank_.wav'>They are using the power of music to help ease tensions and work in support of <span class='blank'>women's rights</span>.</div><div class='choices' data-correct-choice='women's rights'><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/2850/womens_rights.wav'><span>women's rights</span></div><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/2850/union_rights.wav'><span>union rights</span></div><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/2850/football_teams.wav'><span>football teams</span></div><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/2850/mens_rights.wav'><span>men's rights</span></div></div></div><div class='question-buttons'><button class='skip-button'></button><button class='hint-button'></button><button class='speak-button'></button></div></div></div>
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