An Afghan women’s radio station is set to resume broadcasting after the Taliban lifted a suspension imposed for alleged collaboration with a foreign television channel. Radio Begum began broadcasting on International Women’s Day in March 2021, five months before the Taliban seized power amid the chaotic withdrawal of US and NATO troops.
The station’s content is produced entirely by Afghan women. Its sister satellite channel, Begum TV, operates from France and broadcasts programs covering the Afghan school curriculum from grades seven to 12. The Taliban has banned education for women and girls in the country beyond grade six.
In a statement issued on Saturday night, the Taliban’s Ministry of Information and Culture said Radio Begum had made “repeated requests” to resume operations and that the suspension was lifted after the station made commitments to authorities.
The station pledged to “operate in accordance with the principles of journalism and the laws of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan and not to violate any of them in the future.” The ministry did not elaborate on what those principles and rules were. Radio Begum confirmed that the ministry had given permission to resume broadcasting. It did not provide further details.
Since seizing power, the Taliban have excluded women from education, many types of work, and public spaces. As the Taliban tighten their grip on the media, journalists, especially women, have lost their jobs. Afghanistan ranks 178th out of 180 countries in Reporters Without Borders’ 2024 Press Freedom Index, up from 152nd the year before.
The Information Ministry did not initially disclose which TV channel Radio Begum was accused of working with, but a statement on Saturday mentioned collaboration with “foreign banned media outlets”.
