KABUL, Afghanistan — The UN mission in Afghanistan voiced concern on Thursday over the arrest of two employees of Radio Begum, a Kabul-based station focused on women’s empowerment and education, saying their whereabouts remain unknown.
In a statement on social media, the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) called for the release of individuals detained for “exercising their right to freedom of expression.”
“Free media is essential for society to thrive,” the statement said.
Radio Begum confirmed on Wednesday that it had been forced to suspend operations after a Taliban raid on its office. According to the station, Taliban intelligence officials, accompanied by staff from the Taliban’s Ministry of Information and Culture, entered its offices on Tuesday, Feb. 4, questioning employees and seizing computers, hard drives, documents, and female journalists’ mobile phones. Two male employees were taken into custody, the station said.
Taliban have intensified restrictions on independent media since returning to power in August 2021, shuttering dozens of news outlets and imposing strict controls on press freedom. The crackdown has particularly targeted media organizations covering women’s rights and civil liberties.
The Taliban have not commented on the arrests.
