As one of the last female-run stations in the country is silenced, a former broadcaster gives an inside view of the crackdown on women working in the mediaWhen the Taliban began marching towards cities across Afghanistan in the summer of 2021, Alia*, a 22-year-old Afghan journalist, found herself doing some of the most important work of her short life and career.In the weeks leading up to the Taliban takeover in August, Alia’s voice on the radio became familiar to many in northern Afghanistan. She reported on the withdrawal of foreign troops, the siege of government offices and on the detention of former officials in her province. Above all, Alia reported on the situation for women and their fears and concerns – emotions she was experiencing herself. As the Taliban gradually began imposing restrictions on them, Alia was documenting history repeating itself. Continue reading...
The Taliban have banned women's voices in public and media in Afghanistan, targeting female journalists. Since their 2021 takeover, they've arrested and intimidated 336 journalists, forcing closures of media outlets like Radio Begum, which provided education for women. The number of active female journalists dropped from 2,833 in 2021 to 600 in 2024. Despite this, some women's voices remain in northern provinces, highlighting the Taliban's opposition to women's roles in society. Radio remains a vital information source for many Afghans.
