Afghanistan Times
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KABUL – Radio Begum, Afghanistan’s women-led radio station, is set to return to the airwaves after the Taliban reversed its suspension, which was imposed over alleged ties to an overseas TV channel.
The station, which first launched on International Women’s Day in March 2021, has been a rare platform for Afghan women’s voices. It began broadcasting just five months before the Taliban regained control of Afghanistan during the chaotic withdrawal of US and NATO forces.
Radio Begum’s content is entirely produced by Afghan women. Its sister channel, Begum TV, operates from France and airs educational programs based on the Afghan school curriculum for grades seven to 12. This is particularly significant as the Taliban have banned girls in Afghanistan from attending school beyond the sixth grade.
In a statement issued on Saturday night, the Taliban’s Ministry of Information and Culture announced that Radio Begum had “repeatedly requested” to resume operations. The suspension was lifted after the station reportedly pledged to adhere to the “principles of journalism and the regulations of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan,” vowing to avoid “any violations in the future.”
The ministry did not specify what these principles and regulations entail. Radio Begum confirmed it had received permission to restart broadcasting but provided no further details.
Since their return to power, the Taliban have imposed severe restrictions on women and girls, barring them from education beyond primary school, most forms of employment, and public spaces. Media freedoms have also been sharply curtailed, with journalists, particularly women, facing job losses and increased censorship.
Afghanistan’s press freedom has plummeted under Taliban rule. In the 2024 Press Freedom Index by Reporters Without Borders, the country ranked 178th out of 180 nations, a significant drop from its position at 152nd the previous year.
The Information Ministry did not initially name the TV channel it accused Radio Begum of collaborating with. However, the Saturday statement referenced cooperation with “foreign sanctioned media outlets,” without providing further details.
The resumption of Radio Begum’s broadcasts offers a glimmer of hope for Afghan women, who continue to face systemic exclusion under Taliban rule. However, the station’s operations will now be closely monitored to ensure compliance with the Taliban’s strict media guidelines.
