They say that we women journalists have worked hard for years and our only goal was to provide accurate and timely information, but today we are imprisoned in the four walls of houses like prisoners. Lailuma a (pseudonym name) of a female journalist, who has spent years in informing for the values of freedom of expression and reflection on the plight of the people, but she is now at home.
Lailuma said: “We journalists have worked hard for years to provide information, but unfortunately after the capture of Kabul by the Taliban, there have been many restrictions on our work as female journalists, and the Taliban no longer want women to be active in society, especially in the media,”. This situation clearly shows that the Taliban are again with the same mentality as twenty years ago and want other women not to be active in society. Lilma says that if the Taliban really want their government to remain stable and recognized they must respect to women’s rights.
However, Hojjatullah Mujaddidi, president of the Free Journalists Association of Afghanistan, said: “They are trying to solve this problem to make it easier for female journalists who have lost their jobs with the arrival of the Taliban.” Muska (pseudonym name) a 22-year-old is the nickname of a journalist. “I am concerned that, as in the past or in the dark days, all women will become housewives, that the presence of women in society in culture, in politics, and even in sports will diminish. Somayeh Ahmadi, the head of one of the country’s private media outlets, says that a large number of female journalists have resigned after the fall of the republic government. “Working in the media was my love,” and I was interested to have higher educations in this field. she added: Sumaia added: “Women have been on the rise in the media for the past 20 years, and even girls who did not learn journalism professionally worked in entertainment programs, but after the arrival of the Taliban and the security and economic problems of many women in the media”. Another female reporter, who also asked not to be named, said that it had been more than two decades since she had been informing about the problems of the people. But now she has become a housewife.
“Women journalists have worked hard for years, our only goal has been to provide accurate and timely information. Today we are imprisoned on the four walls of our houses like prisoners. Many of us were the breadwinners of our families. The restriction of speech freedom is increasing day by day with coming of Taliban “If this continues, it is a matter of concern.” However, 153 media outlets in 20 provinces have been shut down since the Taliban entered Kabul, according to statistics from Afghanistan’s Free Media Defense Institutions.
Meanwhile, Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said: “We want the media to be free and continue to operate, but to pay attention to Islamic principles.” Mujahid also added that female journalists could continue to work in the media by observing “Islamic and national” principles. However, since the Taliban took control of Afghanistan, the media and media personnel have faced many challenges. According to reports, more than 60% of the media outlets have been shut down and dozens of women journalists have lost their jobs. Women are forming half of the society, but this effective body is now paralyzing.
Reporter: Meena Habib
