Afghanistan’s Taliban authorities raided well-known women’s radio station Radio Begum on Tuesday, arresting two employees, the broadcaster said, with the information ministry saying the outlet’s operations had been suspended.
“Officers from the General Directorate of Intelligence (GDI) assisted by representatives of the Ministry of Information and Culture raided today Begum’s compound in Kabul,” a statement from the broadcaster said, calling for the quick release of its staff.
The station said Taliban authorities held back staff as they searched the office, seizing computers, hard drives and phones, and detaining two male employees “who do not hold any senior management position”.
It said it would not provide further comment, fearing for the security of the detained employees, and asked that the authorities “take care of our colleagues and release them as soon as possible”.
In a statement on social media site X the Taliban information ministry said the station had been suspended.
“Besides multiple violations, it was providing materials and programmes to a TV station based abroad,” it said.
“Due to the violation of the broadcasting policy and improper use of the license (from the ministry), the radio program was suspended today so that the related documents can be carefully evaluated and the final decision can be taken,” it added.
Radio Begum said it has never been involved in any political activity and was “committed to serving the Afghan people and more specifically the Afghan women”.
The station was founded on March 8, International Women’s Day, 2021, five months before the Taliban swept to power, ousting the US-backed government.
The authorities have imposed sweeping restrictions on women, squeezing them out of public life with rules the United Nations has dubbed “gender apartheid”.
(AFP)
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