UNAMA Calls for the Reopening of Radio Begum and the Release of Detained Staff

UNAMA expressed concern in the statement and emphasized that freedom of expression and the operation of independent media are essential for the progress of society.

UNAMA stated that it demands the release of individuals detained for "exercising their right to freedom of expression."

This comes as Taliban intelligence forces, in collaboration with employees of the Taliban’s Ministry of Information and Culture, shut down the offices of Radio Begum and Radio Jawanan in Kabul and detained two staff members of these media outlets.

The Taliban’s Ministry of Information and Culture, without mentioning the closure of Radio Jawanan’s office, claimed in a statement that Radio Begum’s activities were suspended due to "multiple media violations" and producing content for a foreign media outlet.

The Afghanistan Journalists Center, in response to the Taliban’s actions, has also called for the reopening of the offices of Radio Begum and Radio Jawanan and the release of the two detained staff members of these media outlets.

The center has urged the Taliban to act in accordance with the country’s public media law and to refrain from suppressing independent media.

It is worth noting that these actions by the Taliban come at a time when freedom of expression and the operation of independent media in Afghanistan have been severely restricted. Since the Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan, dozens of media outlets have been shut down, and a large number of journalists and media workers have been detained, threatened, or forced to leave their jobs.