Government suspends women’s radio station, arrests 2 staff

Afghanistan’s Taliban authorities raided well-known women’s radio station Radio Begum on Tuesday, arresting two employees.

The broadcaster revealed the incident, calling for the speedy release of its staff.

The Taliban information ministry said the station had been suspended for “multiple violations”, in the latest search by the government of local media outlets in Afghanistan.

“Officers from the General Directorate of Intelligence (GDI) assisted by representatives of the Ministry of Information and Culture raided today Begum’s compound in Kabul,” a statement from the radio station said.

The broadcaster said Taliban authorities searched the office, seizing computers, hard drives and phones, and detaining two male employees “who do not hold any senior management position”.

It said it would not provide further comment, fearing for the security of the detained employees, and asked that the authorities “take care of our colleagues and release them as soon as possible”.

The Taliban information ministry said the station had been suspended, in a statement on social media site X.

“Besides multiple violations, it was providing materials and programmes to a TV station based abroad,” it said.

“Due to the violation of the broadcasting policy and improper use of the license (from the ministry), the radio station was suspended today so that the related documents can be carefully evaluated and the final decision can be taken,” it added.

Radio Begum said it has never been involved in any political activity and was “committed to serving the Afghan people and, more specifically, the Afghan women”.

– Media shuttered –

Reporters Without Borders (RSF), posting on X, demanded “the ban be lifted immediately”.

The freedom of information watchdog says the Taliban authorities closed at least 12 media outlets in 2024.

Radio Begum was founded on March 8, International Women’s Day, 2021, five months before the Taliban swept to power, ousting the US-backed government and implementing a strict interpretation of Islamic law.

The Taliban authorities have imposed broad restrictions on women, squeezing them out of public life with rules the United Nations has labelled “gender apartheid”.

Women have been barred from secondary school and university as well as squeezed from certain types of work.

The few women who still appear on TV channels are covered except for their eyes and hands. Many radio stations have ceased broadcasting women’s voices.

Radio Begum station staff have broadcast programming for women, by women, including educational shows, book readings and call-in counselling.

In 2024, Radio Begum’s Swiss-Afghan founder, Hamida Aman, also launched a satellite television station, Begum TV, broadcasting educational programmes from Paris to help Afghan girls and women continue their education.

Thousands of videos covering the Afghan national curriculum have also been uploaded on a sister website, available for free.

The suspension of Radio Begum is the latest such action against local media in Afghanistan.

In December last year, Taliban authorities shut down Afghan station Arezo TV and detained seven employees.

The Ministry for the Propagation of Virtue and Prevention of Vice (PVPV) accused the channel of betraying Islamic values and being supported by media based outside the country, which have been heavily restricted and criticised by the Taliban authorities.

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