Taliban closes the Voice of Women Radio in Afghanistan

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The Taliban government in Afghanistan closed the Radio Dada-e Banowan (Voice of Women Radio) in the Badakhshan province in the northeast of the country claiming the radio violates the broadcasting policy of the regime.

Founded and led by women, Radio Dada-e Banowan was operating despite difficulties with its employees working from home for the last year.

Najia Sroosh, the Editor-in-Chief of the radio who now lives in the Fayzabad province of Afghanistan talked to bianet.

"Our purpose is to make the voice of the women heard"

31-year-old Sroosh says that Radio Dada-e Banowan is the only radio station in the country dealing with women's issues. "We started the Voice of Women Radio in 2015. We were broadcasting with six female and two male employees until now. We were working from our homes due to the conditions in the last year. Our purpose was to support women journalists, to make the voice of the women heard, and to give women information about their rights," she told bianet.

Why was the radio closed?

Sroosh explains why the radio channel was closed. "Taliban claimed that we played music from our radio station during Ramadan. But this has not happened. It is baseless and not the reality. They are against women working. This is just a pretext they are using. We reported on the education of the girls; which is the real reason for the decision to close the radio channel. But they refuse to accept this," she says.

 "We fear we may die any minute"

Sroosh draws attention to the problems that women face in Afghanistan. "Women have countless problems in this country; from poverty to unemployment, from education to violence. Women are about to lose their hope for the future and they are in fear. Unfortunately, under these conditions, we are not hopeful for our future. We expect we may die any minute," she tells bianet.

"There is no international solidarity"

Sroosh states that they have not received any support from international organizations of journalists until now. "Unfortunately, there is no solidarity. I have been working for 15 years. Nobody or no organization helped me until now. Nobody asked what we need. Nobody tried to help us to start the radio again. Those who contact only ask us why the radio was closed. Women in Turkey and the world have to support the women in Afghanistan in every way. They need to support the women working in Afghanistan so that they will be able to solve their problems even if to an extent," she says.

Taliban puts pressure on the press

Taliban has brought serious restrictions on the media and press after taking power in the country according to the reports of international media institutions. Tens of journalists had to leave the country and many media outlets were either closed or had to stop broadcasting.

The Taliban regime does not allow any reports criticizing the government or any of its members. (NT/PE)