Voices Behind the Mask

The Taliban takeover of this country of 40 million people sounded the death knell for press freedom and the safety of journalists, particularly women journalists. The media are now required to broadcast information that the government controls. The repression of journalists has steadily intensified.

Under the Taliban's regime, female journalists are forbidden from showing their faces, smiling, interviewing male Individuals, attending with male audience, attending press conferences without a male chaperone, and traveling for reporting purposes. they are restricted by secret and specific restrictions, They are even not allowed to smile.

Woman Post recently contacted some female journalists about the challenges and restrictions they face in their jobs, and two of them shared their daily challenges.


Neda ( pseudonym) One of the female journalists from inside Afghanistan said to WomanPost: "More than any restriction, it’s the mental pressure. Every day, we wonder if today will be the last day of our work.

She explained that the Taliban are systematically tightening their control over the media. Recently, they demanded detailed personal information about each journalist and circulated internal directives, specifically targeting news sections. Media outlets are now restricted from inviting guests or discussing new topics without prior approval from the Ministry of Culture and Information, making it nearly impossible for journalists to work freely or report truthfully.

Taliban imposed severe restrictions on media freedom, leading to censorship and self-censorship. This has significantly impacted the ability of female journalists to work and express themselves.

Safety Concerns: Female journalists face heightened risks of harassment and violence. The environment has become increasingly hostile, making it difficult for them to continue their work

UNESCO said in 2024 the number of female media workers who have lost their jobs is now at 80%.

This is a response from a female journalist about the challenges she faces in accessing information.
Mursal Sharifi, using a pseudonym, shares that she often has to wait until the end of the day to receive the Taliban's reaction to a particular topic she is covering.

Shabnam Ahmadi (another pseudonym), another journalist, says that after the Taliban's recent law, she has completely lost hope, stating that her job security is gone and that there is no guarantee she will be able to continue working. She adds that after this announcement, female journalists like her go to work every day with the thought that it might be their last.

They also express disappointment that, because they are women, they are not allowed to cover specific topics related to the Taliban ministries and security offices and must sit in the back rows during press conferences to cover the news; Their places are out of the Taliban’s view in covering the news.

Since the Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan, female journalists have faced severe restrictions. The Ministry for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice of Taliban first instructed the media that female journalists must appear fully covered, with their faces concealed with black masks. Over the past three years, these restrictions have not only targeted the attire of female journalists but also severely limited their access to firsthand information, as Taliban spokespeople are reluctant to be interviewed by women.

The 2024 World Press Freedom Index labels Afghanistan's journalism situation as the "worst," ranking it 178th out of 180, with worsening conditions and the erasure of women journalists from public life.

Statistics from journalist and media support organizations show that in the past two and a half years, the number of female journalists has dropped dramatically. Reporters Without Borders, in its report marking the second year of the Taliban's rule, stated that from August 15, 2021, until the time of the report, over 80% of female journalists have been forced to leave their jobs.
Recently, the Afghanistan Journalists Center has warned that female journalists may be entirely excluded from media activities as the restrictions on women are increasing by the minute.

Statistic by: Ali Khudayar