Television journalists in Afghanistan were forced to bow after a day of resistance to orders from the Taliban government to come out with their faces covered during television broadcasts. The presenters and reporters of the morning news programs on the main Afghan broadcasters appeared on Sunday (22.05.) With headscarves and face masks, or with masks, leaving only the eyes visible.
Many of the journalists initially resisted and appeared on Saturday (21.05.) In front of the cameras with their faces uncovered, even though the infamous Ministry of Virtue Promotion and Addiction Prevention had ordered all journalists to appear from 21 May 2022 with face covered.
Until the decree, journalists in Afghanistan appeared on screen only with headscarves
According to the decree of Taliban leader Haibatullah Ahundsada, women and especially employees of government bodies should appear in public only fully covered. If they break the rules they are fired. Penalties are also provided for male fathers, husbands or guardians of women who are not covered, as well as TV presenters who do not comply with this order.
TOLOnews moderator Sonia Niazi
“We fought and we do not want to wear masks,” said TOLOnews moderator Sonia Niazi. “But Tolonews came under pressure.” “According to her, this television station was forced to either transfer or dismiss all journalists who appeared on screen only with headscarves and refused to cover their mouths and noses completely.” TOLOnews Director Khpolvak Sapai confirmed Niazi’s statements. “They told us, ‘You have to do this, because there is no other way.’ So we did not do it voluntarily.
In solidarity with the moderators, the male journalists and moderators of TOLOnews also put masks on their faces, the correspondents report. Meanwhile, other employees of the station, who do not appear on the screen, continue to leave their faces uncovered.
After taking power in mid-August, the radical Islamic Taliban promised Kabul a more moderate government than during their rule between 1996 and 2001. However, in recent months they have restricted women a lot of freedom, for example in education and in the market. of work. Some Afghan women demonstrated against the restrictions, but the Taliban suppressed the demonstrations by force.