Afghanistan’s only women-run radio station – Sadai Banowan, has been shut down for playing music during the holy month of Ramadan, according to a Taliban official.
Sadai Banowan, which means ‘women’s voice’ in Dari, started 10 years ago. It has eight staff, six of them female.
Moezuddin Ahmadi, the director for Information and Culture in Badakhshan province, said the station violated the “laws and regulations of the Islamic Emirate” several times by broadcasting songs and music during Ramadan and was shuttered because of the breach.
“If this radio station accepts the policy of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan and gives a guarantee that it will not repeat such a thing again, we will allow it to operate again,” said Ahmadi.
However, station head Najia Sorosh denied there was any violation and called it a conspiracy. The Taliban “told us that you have broadcast music. We have not broadcast any kind of music,” she said.
According to a report by AP, Sorosh said at 11:40 a.m. on Thursday representatives from the Ministry of Information and Culture and the Vice and Virtue Directorate arrived at the station and shut it down. She said station staff have contacted Vice and Virtue but officials there said they do not have any additional information about the closing.
Speaking to The Independent, a staff member said her crew was tired of seeking the Taliban’s permission to speak about the basic rights of women in Afghanistan.
She said she was ready to “fight” to save the radio station’s existence, even if it meant being punished.
She said her team are pinning their last remaining hope on a conversation with the Taliban, expected to be held this week.
“I have now decided to speak with the Taliban’s cultural chief and apologise, if needed. If he does not agree, I will break up the equipment and all my materials and shut down operations for ever,” she said.
“But right now, I am not scared, and I will fight for my radio station’s existence. Even if the Taliban wants to jail or kill me in their prison custody,” she added.
The Taliban have barred women from most forms of employment and education beyond the sixth grade, including university.