A group of women journalists and media workers in the northern Balkh province have raised concerns about their job security and economic hardships, as well the Taliban’s restrictions on their work.
In a joint statement on Saturday, the women called for effective measures to support women journalists and media workers in Afghanistan.
Since returning to power in August 2021, the Taliban has imposed draconian restrictions on the media and freedom of expression. For women, these restrictions extend to their clothing, which must be fully covered, and their segregation from male colleagues. Taliban officials also refuse to grant interviews to female journalists.
We are not against hijab but we cannot tolerate gender discrimination,” the journalists said.
In some provinces, the Taliban has banned female journalists from working. And the journalists in Balkh say that they are worried about their futures and their ability to provide for their families.
“We are facing many challenges,” they said. “We are worried about our job security and economic hardships. We are also worried about the increasing restrictions on our work.”
