The Taliban has suspended operations at Radio Begum, Afghanistan’s only women-run radio station, following a raid on its premises in Kabul on Tuesday. This move further marginalizes women from public life and society, adding to the sweeping restrictions imposed since the Taliban seized power in 2021.
According to Radio Begum, officials from the Taliban’s Ministry of Information and Culture entered the station, restraining staff while conducting a thorough search. During the raid, computers, hard drives, files, and mobile phones belonging to both male and female employees, including female journalists, were confiscated. Two male staff members, who did not hold senior management roles, were also detained.
The Taliban ministry later confirmed the station’s suspension, citing multiple violations of broadcasting regulations and improper use of its license. Authorities accused the station of unauthorized collaboration with a foreign television channel but did not specify which network. Officials stated that a decision regarding Radio Begum’s future would be made at a later date.
The suspension has sparked widespread condemnation, with Reporters Without Borders (RSF), an independent press rights organization, calling for an immediate reversal of the ban.
Before its closure, Radio Begum broadcasted six hours of educational programming daily, including lessons on health, psychology, and spirituality, targeting women across most of Afghanistan. The station, which has maintained that it is non-political, aimed to support Afghan girls’ education in a country where girls are barred from attending school beyond sixth grade. Additionally, its affiliated platforms provide online lessons from studios in Paris, expanding access to subjects that Afghan girls can no longer study locally.
Since reclaiming power, the Taliban has steadily tightened control over the media, rolling back initial promises of moderation and inclusivity. Although the group initially pledged to allow women to pursue education up to university level, it has since enforced severe gender-based restrictions. Women are now prohibited from secondary and higher education, banned from working in most fields—including NGOs and UN agencies—and are required to have male guardians when traveling. Access to public spaces such as parks and gyms has also been revoked.
The media landscape has drastically deteriorated, with at least 12 media outlets closed last year alone, according to RSF. Afghanistan now ranks 178 out of 180 in RSF’s Press Freedom Index, reflecting the severe crackdown on free speech. In addition to these restrictions, the Taliban has imposed strict “vice and virtue” laws, which include banning the public broadcasting of women’s voices, whether through singing, reciting, or speaking aloud. These measures made it increasingly difficult for Radio Begum to reach its audience even before the recent ban.
The closure of Radio Begum represents another devastating blow to women’s rights and press freedom in Afghanistan, further silencing voices advocating for education and empowerment in a country where female representation in media is already under threat.
