World Radio Day: Journalists' support organizations express concern over Taliban media restrictions

Several journalists' support organizations marked World Radio Day by voicing concerns over increasing Taliban restrictions on media outlets in Afghanistan. Meanwhile, the Taliban's Ministry of Information and Culture urged media to adhere to its publishing policies.

Khabeb Ghaforan, spokesperson for the Ministry of Information and Culture, stated on Saturday that 228 radio stations currently operate in Afghanistan. He added that the Taliban has issued operating licenses to 40 radios over the past more than four years.

The Afghanistan Journalists Center stated that the Taliban has imposed at least 24 decrees and instructions restricting media activities in the same period, directly affecting radio broadcasts. It listed restrictions including bans on women working in state media, gender segregation in workplaces, prohibitions on women interviewing men or vice versa, mandatory veiling for female journalists, limits on women's attendance at press conferences, and others.

The center further noted that the Taliban has repeatedly arrested and imprisoned media managers and journalists for non-compliance. It reported that at least two local women's radio stations have been threatened by the Taliban in the past year.

The Journalists Support Organization stated that Afghan media and journalists face serious challenges and restrictions in disseminating information. It said pressures on journalists and curbs on media activities have hindered professional reporting and deprived citizens of access to information.

The Afghanistan Free Journalists Union expressed worry over the future of radios in Afghanistan, noting that nearly 3,000 people work in radio stations nationwide. It highlighted that more than half of radio staff do not receive regular monthly salaries, raising serious concerns about the sustainability of radio operations.