There are no longer any women working as television reporters in eastern Nangarhar province, the Afghan Journalists saftey Committee has revealed.
Committee head Yosuf Zarifi said that most of the female journalists in Nangarhar who worked with the media have lost their jobs or left the country.
“Currently, 17 women are still working in media in Nangarhar, but they are only on the radio. There are no female reporters on TV,” Mr Zarifi told Rukhshana Media.
“With the arrival of the Taliban, all male and female journalists in the province are facing severe economic problems.”
Media officials in the province said that during the Republic, there were many female reporters at different TV channels in Nangarhar, but now there is no place for them at the three remaining television channels in the province.
Nangarhar chief at Hamisha Bahar TV Atal Khan Stanekzai told Rukhshana Media that the situation for women has changed.
“During the Republic, ten female journalists worked with us, some of them were the breadwinners and the guardians of their families. They were talented and presented good programs and the audience enjoyed their programs,” he said.
“But now none of those programs are [permitted to be] broadcast on television and the place of those programs is empty.”
A former female reporter in Nangarhar, who preferred not to be named, said that she was earning her family’s income as a reporter, but even as a radio journalist it become too difficult. She feels all her achievements have been lost.
“I worked in the media for five years – three years in television and the last two years in radio. When the Taliban came, my work in radio ended and I stayed at home. I have had mental problems since,” she said.
“My father is old, and my brother is a teenager, and they cannot work. I was the only breadwinner in my family.”
Local media officials said the three television channels in Nangarhar are also facing serious financial problems.
Since the Taliban returned to power in 2021, extreme restrictions have been placed on media broadcasters across news and entertainment broadcasting. Female TV anchors are also required to cover their faces with masks when appearing on television.
