Taliban Raids Women’s Radio Station Radio Begum, Detains Employees

AFP

Kabul: Taliban authorities in Afghanistan raided the prominent women’s radio station, Radio Begum, on Tuesday, detaining two employees. The broadcaster issued a statement demanding the immediate release of its staff.

According to the Taliban’s information ministry, the station was suspended for “multiple violations” during the raid, which involved officers from the General Directorate of Intelligence (GDI) and representatives from the Ministry of Information and Culture.

The authorities searched the station’s office, confiscating computers, hard drives, and phones, and arrested two male employees, who were not senior managers.

In its statement, Radio Begum expressed concern over the security of the detained employees and refrained from making further comments. It urged the authorities to ensure the safety of its colleagues and release them swiftly.

The Taliban’s Ministry of Information claimed the suspension was due to several violations and the station’s provision of content to a foreign TV station. The statement also cited concerns over the misuse of its broadcasting license and the need to review related documents before making a final decision.

Radio Begum, founded on International Women’s Day in 2021, has always emphasized its commitment to serving Afghan women through educational programs, book readings, and call-in counseling. The station has consistently denied engaging in any political activities.

Reporters Without Borders (RSF) swiftly condemned the suspension, calling for the ban to be lifted immediately. The freedom of information watchdog highlighted that at least 12 media outlets in Afghanistan had been shut down by the Taliban in 2024 alone.

Radio Begum’s founder, Hamida Aman, who is of Swiss-Afghan descent, also launched Begum TV, a satellite station based in Paris, offering educational content to Afghan girls and women in defiance of the restrictions imposed by the Taliban.

Additionally, thousands of educational videos, including materials covering the Afghan national curriculum, are available for free on a related website.

This incident follows the closure of other media outlets under the Taliban regime. In December 2024, Afghan station Arezo TV was shut down, and seven employees were detained on charges of betraying Islamic values.

The Taliban’s ongoing clampdown on media freedom has drawn widespread international criticism, particularly for its restrictions on women’s rights and the free expression of Afghan citizens.