Taliban suspend women-focused radio station in Kabul

Taliban have suspended broadcasts of Radio Begum, a Kabul-based station known for its programming on women’s issues, citing alleged violations of media regulations, the Ministry of Information and Culture announced Tuesday.

According to Afghan Amu news outlet, officials accused the station of breaching broadcasting rules and airing foreign content, stating that its license had been misused. The suspension will remain in place pending further investigation, with the possibility of additional legal action.

Founded in 2021, Radio Begum focused on women’s empowerment and education, including lessons for girls unable to attend school. Its parent organization recently launched Begum TV, a Paris-based channel providing educational content.

The suspension comes amid growing media restrictions in Afghanistan, where independent journalism has been severely curtailed since the Taliban returned to power in 2021. Rights groups continue to call for press freedoms to be upheld.