Afghanistan’s Taliban authorities raided and suspended the country’s only women’s radio station – Radio Begum, last week.
According to the Afghanistan Journalists Center (AFJC), on February 4 the station was raided by the General Directorate of Intelligence (GDI) and the Ministry of Information and Culture, leading to its closure and the arrest of two employees.
In a statement, Begum Radio revealed that during the incident, the authorities interrogated employees and confiscated computers, hard drives, documents, and personal phones belonging to female journalists, as well as detaining two male employees. Citing safety concerns, Begum Radio has opted not to provide further comments on the situation until their employees are released.
Established on March 8, 2021, coinciding with International Women’s Day, Begum Radio aims to educate girls and support Afghan women. The station has consistently refrained from any political activities.
Jawanan (Youth) Radio, which shares its premises with Begum Radio in Kabul’s Wazir Akbar Khan area, stated that its office was also closed due to its proximity to Begum Radio. The station reported that one of its sports program hosts was also arrested. Jawanan Radio has appealed to its listeners for assistance in securing the release of its cricket reporter and resuming operations. Founded in 2008, Jawanan Radio focuses on raising civic awareness and fostering dialogue among various communities.
The fate of those detained is currently unknown. Following the raid, an officer instructed the staff of both stations to leave, effectively shutting down their offices.
In a press release on X (formerly Twitter), the de facto Ministry of Information and Culture claimed that Begum Radio, was involved in activities that constituted “multiple violations” and was producing content for a foreign television outlet.
“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.
However, the statement did not clarify the specifics of the raid or the detention of employees.
AFJC strongly denounced the raids and the subsequent closure of these stations as a serious infringement of the fundamental rights of these media outlets and their personnel. It urged the de facto Ministry of Information and Culture and the General Directorate of Intelligence to promptly and unconditionally release the detained employees, lift the restrictions imposed on these media outlets, and allow them to resume operations in accordance with the country’s media law.
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.