Radio Begum, an Afghan radio station operated entirely by women, is set to resume broadcasts after the Taliban lifted a suspension imposed over alleged ties to a foreign TV channel.
The station, which launched on International Women’s Day in March 2021, was shut down after a raid on February 4, during which Taliban officials seized equipment and detained two male employees. The Taliban’s Information and Culture Ministry stated that Radio Begum had requested permission to resume operations and agreed to adhere to the “principles of journalism and the regulations of the Islamic Emirate.”
While the ministry did not specify these regulations, the suspension was lifted after assurances from the station.
Radio Begum’s sister satellite channel, Begum TV, operates from France and broadcasts Afghanistan’s school curriculum for grades seven through 12. The Taliban have severely restricted women’s education, employment, and media roles since taking power in 2021, leading to widespread job losses for female journalists.
Despite the challenges, Radio Begum’s return marks a rare victory for press freedom and women’s voices in Afghanistan.
