The Taliban’s Directorate of Information and Culture in the northeastern Badakhshan province has shut down Radio Sadai-e- Banowan over alleged violation of the Taliban’s broadcasting policy.
According to the Taliban’s director of information and culture, Moezuddin Ahmadi, the radio station violated the group’s policy by broadcasting music during the month of Ramadan.
Najla Shirzad, director of the radio station, however, denied broadcasting music and violating the Taliban’s policy.
The group’s decision of shutting down the radio may be in response to the programs about girl’s education that her radio had aired recently, she said.
Despite facing many challenges over the past year, the women-run radio station continued its operation with female employees recording programs at their homes, following the Taliban restrictions on media and journalism.
Almost half of once Afghanistan’s vibrant media outlets have been either forced to cease operations or move their offices abroad as a result of the Taliban’s restrictions and pressure in the country over the past 18 months.
Those outlets that remain in Afghanistan are operating under strict Taliban rules and face oppressive pressure to abide by the group’s restrictions.
