Afghan women break taboos with whirling dances

On a rooftop in Kabul, Fahima Mirzaie is taking on centuries of social taboos.

She twirls around and around in an ancient dance called Sama.

It's a mystical art form that - until Mirzaie came along - had only been danced by men in Afghanistan.

(SOUNDBITE) (Dari) 23-YEAR -OLD AFGHAN SAMA DANCER, FAHIMA MIRZAIE, SAYING:

"I enjoy the Sama. When I do it, it gives me peace. And the sadness and difficulties of my life go away."

Last year, Mirzaie founded a school, hoping to help others in war-torn Afghanistan suffering from psychological wounds.

It was act of defiance in a society that still frowns on women dancing in public.

Mirzaie has also faced growing pressure from religious conservatives.

Sama is part of a mystical traditional called Sufism dating back to the 13th century.

It focuses on the inner search for God and has spread throughout the Muslim world.

But - according to Islamist militants - Sama is heretical.

(SOUNDBITE) (Dari) 23-YEAR -OLD AFGHAN SAMA DANCER, FAHIMA MIRZAIE, SAYING:

"There are now more and more people who oppose our art form, especially fundamentalists. They see the world in black and white and don't accept any other colour. They've said there should be no Sama dancers. However, our goal is not to chase people away. We want to connect with them."

Following the U.S.-led overthrow of the Taliban in 2001, women in Afghanistan won crucial rights.

But, in recent years, the Islamist group has gained ground.

And with a potential peace deal with the U.S. in the works Mirzaie is facing the possibility of losing hard-fought freedoms.

(SOUNDBITE) (Dari) 23-YEAR -OLD AFGHAN SAMA DANCER, FAHIMA MIRZAIE, SAYING:

"I won't accept an order from the Taliban to stop doing the Sama. They are not the ones to draw the lines for us. And, besides, their way is wrong."

Mirzaie says regardless of what happens in the future, she plans to continue leading her troupe on the search for inner peace.