The Taliban’s Ministry of Information and Culture announced on Tuesday the suspension of Radio Begum, an Afghan women’s radio station, alleging the unauthorized provision of content and programming to an unnamed overseas TV channel, The Associated Press reports.
This marks the second instance of authorities shutting down a media outlet for purportedly working with foreign media organizations.
The ministry accused Radio Begum of violating broadcasting policy and improperly using its license. “This decision comes after several violations, including the unauthorized provision of content and programming to a foreign-based television channel,” the ministry stated, adding that it would be reviewing all necessary documents to determine the station’s future.
Radio Begum was launched on International Women’s Day in March 2021, just months before the Taliban’s resurgence to power following the withdrawal of US and NATO forces. The station’s content is produced entirely by Afghan women. Begum TV, its sister satellite channel, operates from France and broadcasts educational programs covering the Afghan school curriculum for students in grades seven through twelve.
The suspension has drawn sharp condemnation from international rights groups. Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has demanded the reversal of the decision.
Since seizing control, the Taliban have drastically curtailed women’s rights, excluding them from education, many forms of employment, and access to public spaces. The crackdown has extended to the media, with numerous journalists, particularly women, losing their jobs.
Afghanistan’s ranking in the 2024 press freedom index from Reporters Without Borders underscores the deteriorating media environment, placing the country at 178 out of 180 countries. This represents a significant decline from its 2023 ranking of 152.
The information ministry has yet to identify the specific foreign TV channel it claims Radio Begum was collaborating with.
This incident follows a warning issued by the Taliban last May, urging journalists and media professionals in Afghanistan to cease any collaboration with Afghanistan International TV. This was the first time the Taliban explicitly targeted cooperation with a specific media outlet.
