Afghanistan’s only women-led radio station to resume operations after Taliban lifts suspension

An Afghan radio station run entirely by Afghan women is set to resume broadcasting after the Taliban lifted a suspension that was imposed due to alleged collaboration with a foreign TV channel. Radio Begum, which was launched on International Women’s Day in March 2021, will be back on the airwaves after facing a temporary shutdown following the Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan.

The station’s sister satellite channel, Begum TV, operates from France and focuses on broadcasting content related to Afghanistan’s school curriculum for grades seven through 12. This is particularly significant as the Taliban had previously banned education for women and girls in the country after sixth grade.

The Taliban’s Information and Culture Ministry recently announced that Radio Begum had been granted permission to resume broadcasts after the station made commitments to adhere to the principles of journalism and the regulations of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan. The specifics of these principles and regulations were not disclosed by the ministry.

Radio Begum had faced suspension after a raid by Taliban officials on the station’s premises in Kabul on February 4, where computers, hard drives, and phones were seized, and two male employees were taken into custody. Despite the challenges faced by the station, it has been given the green light to continue its operations.

It is important to note that under Taliban rule, women in Afghanistan have been restricted from education, certain fields of work, and public spaces. This has had a significant impact on journalists, especially women, who have lost their jobs as the Taliban tightened control over the media in the region.

Reporters Without Borders ranked Afghanistan 178 out of 180 countries in the 2024 press freedom index, highlighting the challenges faced by journalists in the country. The ministry’s statement did not specify the foreign TV channel Radio Begum was accused of collaborating with but mentioned alleged cooperation with “foreign-sanctioned media outlets.”

This development marks a step forward for Radio Begum and the women behind the station who are determined to continue their work despite the obstacles they face. The resumption of broadcasts will provide a platform for Afghan women to have their voices heard and share important information with their audience.

Overall, the reopening of Radio Begum is a positive development in the media landscape of Afghanistan, and it underscores the resilience and determination of Afghan women to continue their work in the face of challenges.