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Afghanistan's biggest female pop star escapes as fears grow for captured female governor

Afghanistan's biggest female pop star has escaped on a US flight out of Kabul as fears grow for women in the country after the Taliban's vow to impose strict Sharia law.

There are also fears for a captured female governor Salima Mazari, formerly one of Afghanistan's most prominent female politicians, whose supporters say she could be executed. 

And the Taliban now says that religious scholars will decide whether  girls can go to school and women can work, after the new regime earlier said the would respect women's rights 'within the framework of Islamic law. 

Aryana Sayeed, a singer and judge on the Afghan version of The Voice, was one of those fortunate to escape the country on a US cargo jet on Wednesday. 

'I am well and alive and after a couple of unforgettable nights, I have reached Doha, Qatar and am awaiting my eventual flight back home to Istanbul,' the 36-year-old told her 1.3 million Instagram followers. 

Ms Sayeed later posted an update showing that she had flown onward to Turkey. 

She said: 'After I get home and my mind and emotions return back to normal from a world of disbelief and shock, I have many stories to share with you.' 

Ms Sayeed has been a prominent supporter of the Afghan Army and spoke out many times in support of them before the Taliban took the country. She is married to Hasib Sayed, who is also her producer. 

But other prominent women like Salima Mazari, one of the country's first female governors, have already been rounded up and arrested. 

Ms Mazari was an outspoken critic of the Taliban during her time as governor of the Hazara district and there are fears that the jihadists may execute her.

As Islamist 'scholars' decide what rights to grant Afghan women: 

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Aryana Sayeed, is a singer and judge on the Afghan version of The Voice who has 1.5million Instagram followers

Aryana Sayeed, is a singer and judge on the Afghan version of The Voice who has 1.5million Instagram followers

Sayeed has escaped aboard a massive US C-17 cargo flight after being one of the lucky ones to make it to Kabul airport. She is pictured on the flight with her husband and producer Hasib Sayed

Sayeed has escaped aboard a massive US C-17 cargo flight after being one of the lucky ones to make it to Kabul airport. She is pictured on the flight with her husband and producer Hasib Sayed 

Ms Sayeed is a judge on the Afghan version of The VoiceShe is one of the country's most famous recording artists, with more than 1.3 million followers on Instagram

Ms Sayeed is a judge on the Afghan version of The Voice and one of the country's most famous recording artists, with more than 1.3 million followers on Instagram

Ms Sayeed has been a prominent supporter of the Afghan Army and spoke out many times in support of themMs Sayeed has been a prominent supporter of the Afghan Army and spoke out many times in support of them

Ms Sayeed has been a prominent supporter of the Afghan Army and spoke out many times in support of them

Taliban spokesman Waheedullah Hashimi told Reuters on Wednesday: 'Our scholars will decide whether girls are allowed to go to school or not.'

He also ruled out any chance that the current democratic system of government would remain, saying that it was not compatible with Islamic law.

'There will be no democratic system at all because it does not have any base in our country,' Hashimi said.

'We will not discuss what type of political system should we apply in Afghanistan because it is clear. It is sharia law and that is it.'

The arrested governor, Ms Mazari, had previously stated that women living under Afghan rule had no life at all. 

'In the provinces controlled by the Taliban, no women exist there anymore, not even in the cities. They are all imprisoned in their homes,' she said in interview before her region fell to the terrorists. 

Ms Mazari is a member of the Hazara community, most of whom are Shia Muslims, while the Taliban are Sunnis who consider her's a heretical sect. 

The Persian-speaking Hazaras have been regularly targeted in attacks by the Taliban and ISIS, including an attack on a school in May that left 80 girls dead.

Fears over her arrest come as the former captain of the women's soccer team urged players to delete social media, erase public identities and burn their kits. 

Copenhagen-based Khalida Popal told Reuters in a video interview on Wednesday that the militants had killed, raped and stoned women in the past and female footballers were scared of what the future might hold. 

The co-founder of the Afghan women's football league said she had always used her voice to encourage young women 'to stand strong, to be bold, to be visible' but now she had a different message.

'Today I'm calling them and telling them, take down their names, remove their identities, take down their photos for their safety. Even I'm telling them to burn down or get rid of your national team uniform,' she said.

'And that is painful for me, for someone as an activist who stood up and did everything possible to achieve and earn that identity as a women's national team player.

'To earn that badge on the chest, to have the right to play and represent our country, how much we were proud.'

Prominent women like Salima Mazari, one of the country's first few female governors, have already been rounded up and arrested (pictured in July scouting positions in Balkh province with her men)

Prominent women like Salima Mazari, one of the country's first few female governors, have already been rounded up and arrested (pictured in July scouting positions in Balkh province with her men)

Ms Mazari (pictured in July) was an outspoken critic of the Taliban during her time as governor of the Hazara district and there are fears that the jihadists may execute her

Ms Mazari (pictured in July) was an outspoken critic of the Taliban during her time as governor of the Hazara district and there are fears that the jihadists may execute her

During their 1996-2001 rule, guided by Islamic law, the Taliban stopped women from working. Girls were not allowed to go to school and women had to wear burqas to go out, and then only when accompanied by a male relative.

Those who broke the rules sometimes suffered humiliation and public beatings by the Taliban's religious police.

The Taliban have said they will respect the rights of women within the framework of Islamic law.

However, many experts say that this is simply a sophisticated PR campaign to win legitimacy on the global stage.   

Meanwhile, supporters of al-Qaeda and other Islamist groups have been celebrating the rise of the Taliban, sparking new fears that the country will become a breeding ground for terror.

'Afghanistan is Conquered and Islam has Won,' a message on a pro-al-Qaeda social media account said on Monday.

It went on to congratulate 'the brothers' in the Taliban on their victory.

Taliban spokesman Hashimi said on Wednesday that the country would build an elite force with the expertise of the routed Afghan army, which British and US taxpayers paid a fortune for over the last 20 years. 

'Most of them have got training in Turkey and Germany and England. So we will talk to them to get back to their positions,' Hashimi said.

'Of course we will have some changes, to have some reforms in the army, but still we need them and will call them to join us.'

Hashimi said the Taliban especially needed pilots because they had none, while they had seized helicopters and other aircraft in various Afghan airfields during their lightning conquest of the country after foreign troops withdrew.

'We have contact with many pilots,' he said. 'And we have asked them to come and join, join their brothers, their government. We called many of them and are in search of (others') numbers to call them and invite them to their jobs.' 

He said the Taliban expected neighboring countries to return aircraft that had landed in their territory - an apparent reference to the 22 military planes, 24 helicopters and hundreds of Afghan soldiers who fled to Uzbekistan over the weekend

Babies were thrown over barbed wire towards troops at Kabul airport in a desperate bid to get them out of the country as the west's ignominious exit from Afghanistan continued

Babies were thrown over barbed wire towards troops at Kabul airport in a desperate bid to get them out of the country as the west's ignominious exit from Afghanistan continued

A British soldier carries an Afghan girl away from crowds at the gate, as Defence Secretary Ben Wallace today urged people not to pass their children to troops because they will not get a seat on flights out

A British soldier carries an Afghan girl away from crowds at the gate, as Defence Secretary Ben Wallace today urged people not to pass their children to troops because they will not get a seat on flights out

more videos

HMP Addiewell inmate films himself kissing female prison guard

Afghanistan: Taliban insurgents beat man carrying Afghan national flag

Video appears to show wanted Taliban fundraiser Khalil Haqqani

Streatham terror attack: Moment armed officers approach Sudesh Amman

US troops clash with desperate Afghans at Kabul airport

Woman with 20-year age gap relationship is accused of gold digging

Afghan refugees flee to Turkey to escape Taliban takeover

Son of Afghan president out and about in Washington DC

Man run down after homeless mob attacks couple with baby

Britney Spears posts an Instagram with her dog

Car smashed and Afghan flag destroyed by what appears to be Taliban

Heartwarming body cam video catches Florida cop deliver baby

Overnight chaos at Kabul airportOvernight chaos at Kabul airport

Troops fired gunshots and let off stun grenades at the entrance to the northern military side of the airport overnight in a vain bid to keep crowds of thousands from rushing the gates

Overnight chaos at Kabul airportOvernight chaos at Kabul airport

Tens of thousands of Afghans have gathered at the north and south entrances to Kabul airport in the hopes of securing a seat on western evacuation flights out of the country

He went on to reveal that the country may be governed by a ruling council now that the Taliban has taken over, while the terror group's supreme leader, Haibatullah Akhundzada, would likely remain in overall charge. 

The Taliban would also reach out to former pilots and soldiers from the Afghan armed forces to join its ranks, Hashimi said.

How successful that recruitment is remains to be seen. Thousands of soldiers have been killed by Taliban insurgents over the last 20 years, and recently the group targeted U.S.-trained Afghan pilots because of their pivotal role.

The power structure that Hashimi outlined would bear similarities to how Afghanistan was run the last time the Taliban were in power from 1996 to 2001.

Then, supreme leader Mullah Omar remained in the shadows and left the day-to-day running of the country to a council.

American troops stand guard at Hamid Karzai airport in Afghanistan as evacuations from the country continue

American troops stand guard at Hamid Karzai airport in Afghanistan as evacuations from the country continue

Afghan women disembark from a Spanish Airbus A-400M plane that had 'just over 50 people' on board despite having capacity for 150, at Torrejon de Ardoz air base near Madrid

Afghan women disembark from a Spanish Airbus A-400M plane that had 'just over 50 people' on board despite having capacity for 150, at Torrejon de Ardoz air base near Madrid

Afghan men, women and children disembark from the first evacuation flight to land in Spain as the west pulls out of Afghanistan after 20 years of fighting

Afghan men, women and children disembark from the first evacuation flight to land in Spain as the west pulls out of Afghanistan after 20 years of fighting

A C-17 military jet lands at Amsterdam's Schipol airport carrying the first batch of evacuees from Afghanistan

A C-17 military jet lands at Amsterdam's Schipol airport carrying the first batch of evacuees from Afghanistan

Akhundzada would likely play a role above the head of the council, who would be akin to the country's president, Hashimi added.

'Maybe his (Akhundzada's) deputy will play the role of 'president',' Hashimi said, speaking in English.

The Taliban's supreme leader has three deputies: Mawlavi Yaqoob, son of Mullah Omar, Sirajuddin Haqqani, leader of the powerful militant Haqqani network, and Abdul Ghani Baradar, who heads the Taliban's political office in Doha and is one of the founding members of the group.

Many issues regarding how the Taliban would run Afghanistan have yet to be finalized, Hashimi explained, but Afghanistan would not be a democracy. 

Hashimi said he would be joining a meeting of the Taliban leadership that would discuss issues of governance later this week.

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