Afghan Women’s Radio Station Radio Begum to Resume Broadcasts After Taliban Lifts Suspension

Radio Begum, an Afghan women’s radio station, will resume broadcasts after the Taliban lifted its suspension, Arab News reported. The station was initially halted due to allegations of unauthorized content provision to an overseas TV channel and improper use of its license.

Launched on International Women’s Day in March 2021, Radio Begum produces content exclusively by Afghan women. Its sister channel, Begum TV, broadcasts educational programs from France, covering grades seven to twelve, despite the Taliban’s ban on education for girls beyond sixth grade.

In a recent statement, the Taliban’s Information and Culture Ministry announced that the suspension was lifted following commitments from Radio Begum to adhere to unspecified principles of journalism and regulations set by the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan. Since the Taliban’s takeover, restrictions on women’s rights and media freedoms have intensified, with Afghanistan ranking 178 out of 180 countries in the 2024 press freedom index.