The Taliban has suspended operations at Radio Begum, Afghanistan’s only women-run radio station, after raiding its Kabul office on Tuesday. This latest crackdown further marginalizes women from public life since the group’s return to power in 2021.
Officials from the Taliban’s Ministry of Information and Culture confiscated computers, hard drives, and files while detaining two male employees. The ministry accused the station of broadcasting policy violations, including the unauthorized sharing of content with a foreign TV channel, though it did not specify which one.
Radio Begum has been a vital educational platform for Afghan women and girls, airing six hours of lessons daily, alongside health, psychology, and spiritual programs. The station also offers online classes via studios in Paris, providing an alternative education source for Afghan girls barred from attending school beyond sixth grade.
Reporters Without Borders (RSF) condemned the station’s suspension, calling for its immediate reinstatement. The Taliban has tightened its grip on the media, shutting down at least 12 outlets last year and placing Afghanistan 178th out of 180 in RSF’s press freedom index.
Since 2021, the Taliban has imposed sweeping gender restrictions, banning women from universities, workplaces, public spaces, and even prohibiting their voices from being heard in public. The closure of Radio Begum further isolates Afghan women, silencing one of their last remaining lifelines.
