Reactions to the Closure of Begum Radio: Calls for the Release of Detained Journalists and Lifting of the Ban
The Taliban’s Ministry of Information and Culture shut down Begum Radio in Kabul on Tuesday, February 4, 2025, and detained several employees. Additionally, authorities suspended the broadcasts of Zwanan (Youth Radio), which operated from the same building as Begum Radio.
The Taliban cited repeated violations of its regulations and alleged cooperation with a foreign television channel as the reasons for shutting down Begum Radio. However, no explanation was provided for the suspension of Zwanan Radio.
The closures and arrests have sparked strong reactions from the United Nations and media advocacy organizations. Richard Bennett, the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in Afghanistan, expressed deep concern on X, formerly Twitter, and called for the immediate and unconditional release of the detainees.
“Deeply concerned about the detention of two male staff from the women-led Radio Begum. I urge their immediate & unconditional release and an end to the intimidation and arbitrary arrests of journalists & media workers, which have devastated civic space in Afghanistan,” Bennett stated.
Reporters Without Borders (RSF) also strongly condemned the crackdown on Begum and Zwanan Radio, calling it another step in the Taliban’s increasing restrictions on press freedom.
“The Taliban’s targeting of Radio Begum is yet another outrageous attack on press freedom. By using vaguely-worded regulations to silence a radio station dedicated to Afghan women, the regime is reaffirming its appetite for brutal censorship, which is just one part of a broader policy of media repression. RSF demands the release of the two detained employees and an immediate end to the ban on Radio Begum,” said Célia Mercier, head of RSF’s South Asia Desk.
The Afghanistan Journalists Center (AFJC) clarified that Begum and Zwanan Radio were independent entities, sharing only a building. In a press statement, the AFJC condemned the arrests, stating:
“The Afghanistan Journalists Center strongly denounces the Taliban’s raid on the offices of Begum and Zwanan Radio in Kabul, which led to the arrest of two employees. We demand the immediate release of the detained journalists and the resumption of both radio stations’ broadcasts.”
Meanwhile, the Taliban’s Ministry of Information and Culture claims the cases of both stations have been referred to the courts for a final decision. Ministry spokesperson Khabib Ghafran stated:
“The operations of these radio stations, with the male section known as Juwan and the female section as Begum, have been temporarily suspended. Their cases have been submitted to the court, and we await its final ruling.”
Begum Radio was launched in Kabul on March 8, 2021, to coincide with International Women’s Day, while Zwanan Radio has been operating since 2012.
The latest annual report by Reporters Without Borders highlights the dire state of press freedom in Afghanistan. Since the Taliban’s return to power in August 2021, nearly 3,000 media outlets have ceased operations, and thousands of journalists have fled the country. Afghanistan currently ranks 178th out of 180 countries in global press freedom rankings.
