Afghan Journalists Center Condemns Taliban Closure of Bamyan Radio

The Afghan Journalists Center has issued a statement condemning the recent closure of Bamyan Radio by Taliban intelligence officials. The center has called for the station to be allowed to reopen without further delay, describing the shutdown as an unnecessary restriction on press activities in central Afghanistan.

According to available information, the office of the radio station in Bamyan was raided and sealed by Taliban intelligence forces. The stated reason for the closure was the lack of a renewed work permit for the station. Station representatives had made several attempts to renew the necessary operating documents, but these efforts did not succeed in obtaining approval from the authorities.

Established in 2003, Bamyan Radio holds the distinction of being the first private radio station to operate in Bamyan province. The outlet maintained its programming schedule, which included news reports as well as cultural, political, and social topics, even after the change in government in 2021.

Confirmation of the closure came from a Taliban spokesman, who noted that the station had been operating without a valid license. Following this development, the province now has only one remaining private radio station that continues to broadcast to listeners.

In its statement, the Afghan Journalists Center drew attention to the overall reduction in media space since the Taliban assumed power. The organization stressed the need for greater tolerance toward independent media outlets and specifically requested that Bamyan Radio be permitted to return to the airwaves promptly.