The Taliban has suspended the operations of Afghanistan’s only women’s radio station, Radio Begum, after raiding its offices in Kabul on Tuesday. This move intensifies the group’s efforts to exclude women from public life since seizing power in 2021.
Radio Begum, a station run by women and dedicated to women’s education, reported that officers from the Taliban’s information and culture ministry stormed its premises. The officers restrained staff and confiscated computers, hard drives, files, and phones. Two male employees, who held no senior positions, were also detained.
The ministry later confirmed the shutdown, accusing the station of violating broadcasting policies and misusing its license. Officials claimed Radio Begum shared content with a foreign-based TV channel without authorization. However, they did not name the channel or provide further details. The station’s future remains uncertain, with the Taliban stating it will decide its fate “in due course.”
Reporters Without Borders (RSF), a global press freedom organization, condemned the suspension. The group demanded the Taliban reverse its decision immediately.
Before the shutdown, Radio Begum broadcast six hours of daily programming, including lessons, health advice, and psychological support for women across Afghanistan. The station emphasized its non-political nature, focusing solely on educating girls and supporting women.
Radio Begum’s sister channels, operating from studios in Paris, continue to offer online lessons. These televised classes cover a wide range of subjects, providing critical education in a country where girls are banned from attending school beyond the sixth grade.
Since returning to power, the Taliban has tightened its control over Afghanistan’s media landscape. Initially, the group portrayed itself as more moderate than during its brutal rule in the 1990s. It even promised to allow women to pursue education up to the university level.
However, the Taliban has since reversed course, banning girls from secondary schools and universities. Women are also barred from working in most sectors, including NGOs and the United Nations. They face travel restrictions unless accompanied by a male chaperone and are prohibited from entering public spaces like parks and gyms.
Last year, the Taliban shut down at least 12 media outlets, both public and private. Afghanistan now ranks 178 out of 180 countries in RSF’s press freedom index.
The Taliban’s strict “vice and virtue” laws have further silenced women’s voices. Women are banned from singing, reciting, or reading aloud in public. These measures have made it increasingly difficult for Radio Begum to reach its audience.
The suspension of Radio Begum marks another blow to women’s rights in Afghanistan. It underscores the Taliban’s relentless efforts to erase women from public life and suppress their voices.
