Sadai Banowan, the only women-run radio station in Afghanistan, has been closed down by the Taliban for violating Islamic laws and regulations.
Moezuddin Ahmadi, the director for Information and Culture in Badakhshan province, stated that the radio station had repeatedly played music during Ramadan, which led to its closure.
The station’s head, Najia Sorosh, denied any wrongdoing and called the closure a conspiracy.
The Taliban has stated that the station can reopen if it complies with its policies and gives a guarantee that such a violation will not happen again.
The closure of the station is the latest in a series of measures taken by the Taliban to restrict women’s rights and freedom of expression.
Since the Taliban takeover in August 2021, many journalists have lost their jobs, and media outlets have closed due to a lack of funds or because their staff left the country.
Afghan journalists who refuse to comply with the Taliban’s policies have been arrested, with some reporting abuse and torture after their release.
The Taliban has banned women from most forms of employment and education beyond the sixth grade, including university.
The Taliban had previously banned most television, radio, and newspapers in the country during their rule in the late 1990s.
