Wed Feb 05 01:38:53 UTC 2025: ## Taliban Raids Women’s Radio Station, Arrests Two Employees

**KABUL, AFGHANISTAN** – Afghan authorities raided Radio Begum, a prominent women’s radio station, on Tuesday, arresting two male employees and suspending its operations. The Taliban’s information ministry cited unspecified “multiple violations” and the provision of materials to a foreign television station as justification.

The raid, conducted by the General Directorate of Intelligence (GDI) and the Ministry of Information and Culture, resulted in the seizure of computers, hard drives, and phones from Radio Begum’s Kabul compound. The station, in a statement, condemned the actions and called for the immediate release of its detained staff, expressing concern for their safety.

The Taliban ministry, in a statement on X (formerly Twitter), claimed Radio Begum violated broadcasting policies and misused its license. However, Radio Begum denies any political activity, asserting its commitment to serving the Afghan people, particularly women. The station provides educational programming, book readings, and counseling services.

Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has condemned the raid and suspension, calling for the immediate lifting of the ban. RSF notes that at least 12 media outlets have been shut down by the Taliban in 2024. This incident follows a similar crackdown on Arezo TV in December 2023.

Radio Begum, founded in 2021, has been a crucial voice for women in Afghanistan, where the Taliban regime has imposed severe restrictions on women’s rights and freedoms, including barring them from secondary education and many workplaces. The station’s founder, Hamida Aman, also launched a satellite television station, Begum TV, broadcasting educational programs from Paris to support Afghan women’s education. The recent raid highlights the ongoing suppression of media and women’s rights under Taliban rule.

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