National Journalists’ Day in Afghanistan: ‘We Aren’t Even Allowed to Laugh’

This personal account, written by a female journalist in Afghanistan, was published in partnership with Rukhshana Media.

The media sector is one of the few areas where women under the Taliban regime are still able to work. However, the Taliban have subjected women to significant pressures. Some of these pressures are restrictions on freedom of movement, compulsory dress codes, and the requirement to wear a mask while appearing on television.

According to reports, the Taliban’s intelligence agency has appointed representatives to monitor and control the media.

Based on reports, the Taliban’s intelligence has appointed representatives to oversee and control the media.

Twenty-seven-year-old Florence*, a journalist with five years of experience in the media, currently works for a local Afghan news outlet. For security reasons, her exact workplace is not disclosed.

Last summer, during one of the long workdays, she and one of her colleagues laughed out loud during a break. Immediately, a Taliban intelligence representative warned them that if such behavior was repeated, they would face serious consequences. 

Following that incident, the media managers said that all Taliban laws must be strictly followed, as the group is looking for any excuse to remove women from the media sector.

We are forced to follow the Taliban’s rules and are not allowed to speak out against their government. Programs for women and men are completely separate, and no female presenter is allowed to host a program for a male audience.

Even in programs specifically for women, we are not allowed to laugh; we can only smile behind a mask, and it must be done in a way that is not visible. Additionally, no body movements that could reveal the contours of the body, such as hand or head gestures, are allowed. We work within a very restricted workplace.

In the past, media outlets had a section dedicated to evaluating the work quality of employees; however, now, due to pressure from the Taliban, this section effectively acts as the “morality police.”

They monitor whether female employees have laughed out loud during programs or made movements that could show their hands raised. Media officials try to keep some women in the workforce, but the Taliban is constantly looking for any excuse to remove women from the media. 

For this reason, the employee management section now functions entirely like the morality police. Additionally, the Ministry for the Propagation of Virtue and Prevention of Vice has a representative at every media outlet, and sometimes Taliban forces visit the office without prior notice to control everything.

Recently, the Taliban’s intelligence sent out a form requiring all media employees to register their details, including home addresses and other personal information.

The mental health of all female employees in the media is severely deteriorating. We are all under intense psychological pressure and have no hope for the future. Every day, we go to work with fear. Female presenters are always worried that they might accidentally say something against the Taliban.

My colleagues and I have a deep passion for journalism and working in the media. Most of us have studied journalism and are passionate about continuing our work in this field.

We continue our work despite the serious risks. Currently, the media is the only place where women can still work. If we lose this opportunity, we will have no place to work.

The employee management committee has told us we must always wear long, dark, and preferably black clothing. Even during the hiring process, new employees are informed about the dress code they must follow.

We even inform program guests before inviting them that they must wear masks, long and loose clothing, and large scarves.

Wearing a mask under any circumstances is not easy, but it becomes truly difficult in hot weather. There have been times when I had to wear a mask for five continuous hours, and by the end of the day, I experienced shortness of breath.

Female journalists are not allowed to attend internal conferences; however, they can travel to international conferences accompanied by a male guardian.

In the workplace, there are also many restrictions for female journalists and female employees. They must always wear long, loose clothing and are not allowed to speak with male colleagues.

Before the Taliban’s rule, working in Afghanistan’s media had significance. There was freedom of expression, and the media operated without restrictions. Journalists enjoyed both physical and mental security, had great enthusiasm and motivation for their work, and had the freedom to move around. However, now, everything has changed, and the situation is completely the opposite.