PARIS 2024 breakdancer Talash was controversially disqualified seconds into her routine on Friday following a political statement regarding women’s rights in Afghanistan.
The Afghan competitor, whose real name is Manizha Talas, was taking part in the Olympic premiere of the dance sport as part of the refugee team at Urban Park.
Afghan women, bearing the brunt of Taliban tyranny, show incredible resilience. Manizha Talash’s Olympic debut, marked by her cape and a powerful statement, symbolizes hope amid personal loss and Taliban threats.
— Habib Khan (@HabibKhanT) August 9, 2024
Free Afghan Women
pic.twitter.com/6BAjmoIYa4
The 21-year-old fled from her homeland in 2021 following the return of the Taliban who reinstated their repressive regime and so she settled in Spain with her brother.
And the dancer wanted to raise awareness of the political situation in her country during her performance as she removed her jumper to reveal a blue cape that read “Free Afghan Women”.
The performer received a loud roar of approval from the live Paris 2024 crowd as well as an applause from her Dutch opponent India Sardjoe and later insisted she wanted to share a positive message.
Talash explained: “‘I wanted to show people what is possible.”
However, that led to a disqualification as it went against the regulations of the World DanceSport Federation who viewed it as “displaying a political slogan”.
The rules strictly prohibit athletes from making political statements at the Olympics.
That is despite the International Olympic Committee easing these restrictions in recent years.
The Taliban’s return led to a dramatic decrease of women’s rights as female citizens have since been prohibited from attending secondary school and university as well as going to public parks.
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Women were also disallowed from playing sports and so several female athletes’ homes were raided.
That measure led to Talash’s breakdancing club being forced to shut down.
And she previously opened up on death threats she received in Afghanistan before she fled her country.
