In a move that has sparked outrage and condemnation from human rights groups, the Taliban has closed down a women-run radio station in the city of Herat. The reason was to playing a song that they deemed inappropriate.
Women’s Voice Radio
The station, known as “Radio Sedaye Zan” or “Women’s Voice Radio,” had been broadcasting news, entertainment programs aimed at women. It promoting their rights and empowerment. However, on Saturday, the Taliban raided the station and shut it down after they discovered that the station had played a song that they considered to be in violation of their strict interpretation of Islamic law.
The song, titled “Aaj Me Tere Lad Laga Hoon” by Pakistani singer Naseebo Lal, is a popular Punjabi track. That features romantic lyrics and suggestive imagery. The Taliban, who known for their strict rules regarding women’s behavior and dress, saw the song as promoting immorality and promiscuity.
The station’s staff, which entirely made up of women, have since gone into hiding for fear of reprisals from the Taliban. The closure of the radio station had met with outrage from women’s rights groups, who say that it is a clear violation of freedom of expression and women’s rights.
Women’s rights
In a statement, Amnesty International called on the Taliban to respect the rights of women. And allow them to work and express themselves freely. “The closure of Radio Sedaye Zan is a clear violation of women’s rights and freedom of expression,” the statement read. “The Taliban must immediately cease all attacks on women’s rights. They should also allow women to work and express themselves without fear of reprisals.”
Women’s rights activists are now calling on the international community to take action to support women in Afghanistan. They are urging governments to put pressure on the Taliban to respect women’s rights. And to ensure that women are not subjected to further oppression and discrimination.
The Taliban’s crackdown on women’s rights and freedom of expression has been a major concern since they seized power in Afghanistan last year. The closure of Radio Sedaye Zan is just the latest in a string of incidents where the group has sought to restrict the rights and freedoms of women in the country.
As the Taliban continues to consolidate its power in Afghanistan, many fear that the gains made by women over the past two decades will rolled back. The closure of Radio Sedaye Zan is just one example of the many challenges that women in Afghanistan face in the years to come.
No Media Law
The lack of a clear media law in Afghanistan is causing confusion and misunderstandings among media operators and manager. The problem has arisen from a misunderstanding on the part of implementing the media law. Which has created a legal vacuum. The Taliban’s government officials in different provinces have their own interpretation of the broadcasting directives, leading to inconsistent and contradictory decisions.
The Taliban’s broadcasting directives, which issued shortly after coming to power in September 2021, interpreted by media watchdogs as a sign that the Taliban planned to censor media content in the country. That caused concern among media operators and managers who fear that their freedom to report the news and broadcast programs will restricted.
The lack of a clear media law also causing confusion about what allowed to be broadcast. Some media operators are playing it safe and sticking to news and current affairs. While others are taking a more liberal approach and including entertainment programs in their schedules. The result is a patchwork of different media outlets with varying degrees of content censorship.
Media watchdogs are calling on the Taliban to clarify the broadcasting directives. And to issue a clear media law that outlines the rights and responsibilities of media operators and managers. They are also urging the Taliban to respect the freedom of the press. They also should ensure that media outlets are not censored or shut down.
The media plays an important role in informing the public and holding governments to account. Without a clear media law, media operators and managers left to interpret the broadcasting directives on their own, leading to confusion and uncertainty. It is essential that the Taliban clarify the broadcasting directives. And issue a clear media law to ensure that media outlets can operate freely, without fear of censorship or retaliation.
Facing worst situation
Hamid Obaidi, the head of the Afghanistan Journalists Support Organization and a former journalism lecturer at Kabul University, has reported to VOA that the closure of women-run radio in Badakhshan is an attempt by the Taliban to halt women from working in media. He expressed concern over the past few months. Where women journalists and media workers have encountered repressive restrictions, demonstrating that the Taliban opposed to women working in media. Obaidi emphasized that the situation has become increasingly arduous for female journalists in Afghanistan since the Taliban’s takeover. He asserted that women journalists who persist in their work are facing the worst situation in the country.
