Afghanistan Times
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AT Monitoring
Britain: To mark the first anniversary of the Taliban takeover of their country, Afghan artists are to launch a kite-flying festival across Britain and Europe next month.
The Fly With Me festival, taking place in at least 15 towns and cities, will also urge the public to “remember Afghanistan” amid fading public awareness of its worsening humanitarian crisis.
The solidarity event celebrating the ancient Afghan craft of kite-flying will be held on August 20, one year on from when the Taliban completed their conquest of Afghanistan by seizing the capital Kabul.
The festival has been developed by theatre group Good Chance Theatre alongside Afghan artists living in Britain.
Master kite-maker and refugee Sanjar Qiam, one of the co-creators, said: “In Afghanistan, kites occupy a unique space between national art form and national sport. They are a universal symbol of expression, skill and cultural pride.
“Fly With Me is an act of solidarity with the people of Afghanistan and an opportunity for all of us to come together and feel between our fingers the strings that connect us to this incredible country, its culture and its people.”
The festival also calls on the government to treat Afghan refugees with the same compassion as those from Ukraine.
