Taliban banned women’s faces and voices on television and radio in Takhar

By Rukhshana Media

Following the Taliban’s two media regulations released in September and November, the group has banned the broadcast of women’s voices and faces on radio and television in the northeastern province of Takhar, the Afghan Journalists Safety Committee (AJSC) said in a new report released on Sunday. 

“The treatment of journalists by [the Taliban] government officials…has improved…but broadcasting of women’s faces in serials and movies is forbidden and women’s voices are not allowed to broadcast in radios,” the AJSC report reads. 

The report, which provides a general overview of the situation of journalists and media in 16 provinces, also states that the Taliban’s Ministry of Propagation of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice banned the broadcast of music on radios in the northern province of Jawzjan.

Furthermore, the Taliban ministry has imposed new restrictions on media in the northern province of Balkh, including forced “hijab” for women journalists and a ban on music.

The Taliban’s first media regulation was issued on September 19, in which the group asked journalists and media not to produce content “contrary to Islam” and not to report on “matters that have not been confirmed by officials.”

The second media regulation, issued on November 21 by the Taliban’s Ministry of Propagation of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice, ordered media to not broadcast movies that are opposed to the “principles of Sharia and Afghan values” and depict “women actors.” It also ordered forced “hijab” for women journalists working for local TV channels. 

The new restriction comes amid growing concern over the Taliban’s media censorship and exclusion of women journalists from working in the media. In the past months, Reporters Without Borders and Human Rights Watch have issued warnings about the Taliban restriction on women journalists and the media in Afghanistan.