Female journalists in Afghanistan are continuing to report both from TV studios and from the streets of Kabul as their careers and personal safety remain uncertain amid the Taliban takeover.
Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid on Tuesday spoke at the militant group's first press conference since taking control of Afghanistan. The Taliban is "committed to the rights of women under the system of Sharia law,"Mujahid said, adding that women can work and study "within our frameworks."
However, when Charlotte Bellis, a reporter with Al Jazeera, asked if women journalists can work as they have in the past, Mujahid said that's for "the next government" to decide.
When asked by a female Afghan journalist if women journalists will still be able to work like before the Taliban spokesman palms the answer off to the ‘new government who will make the rules’. It was not an encouraging response in tone or content.
— Paul Danahar (@pdanahar) August 17, 2021
Images emerged on social media this week of female journalists from several Afghan outlets, including TOLO News, Ariana TV, and Etilaatroz, reporting on the situation in Kabul and even interviewing a member of the Taliban.
We will never, ever be able to match the courage and bravery of Afghan women.
— Mujib Mashal (@MujMash) August 17, 2021
None of us. And certainly not the leaders who dragged on a war in their name, showed little sincere commitment beyond token representation, and then left them to fight for their place through a fire https://t.co/7aCbacJNKT
Hasiba Attakpal, a reporter at TOLO News, was shown reporting from the streets of Afghanistan, while women were also shown taking part in a morning meeting alongside male journalists in the TOLO News office.
Our today's morning meeting in the news room @TOLOnews
— Miraqa Popal (@MiraqaPopal) August 17, 2021
Second day of Kabul takeover by #Taliban#Afghanistanpic.twitter.com/HYrA09kQde
Sakina Amiri, a reporter at the Afghan daily Etilaatroz, was photographed interviewing members of the Taliban.
My colleague @sakinaamiri1 is interviewing #Taliban in Kabul. pic.twitter.com/obXXhFwWyA
— Elyas Nawandish (@elyas_nawandish) August 17, 2021
Meanwhile, Nasrin Shirzad from Ariana TV continued her usual role anchoring a current affairs program.
Business as usual on Ariana TV it seems too. Their well known Presenter Nasrin Shirzad with her current affairs programme. https://t.co/0zqQz20UNQ
— Sana Safi ثنا ساپۍ (@BBCSanaSafi) August 17, 2021
Saad Mohseni, the director of the parent company of TOLO News, tweeted out photos of both Attakpal and Zahra Rahimi doing their jobs despite the looming uncertainty.
Our brave female journalists out and about in Kabul this morning @TOLOnews pic.twitter.com/tAC29Y2zIG
— Saad Mohseni (@saadmohseni) August 17, 2021
MOBYGroup, a Dubai-based media company, established TOLO in 2010 as Afghanistan's first 24-hour news channel. Mohseni noted that such interviews likely wouldn't have been able to take place 20 years ago, the last time the Taliban was in power.
TOLOnews and the Taliban making history again: Abdul Haq Hammad, senior Taliban rep, speaking to our (female) presenter Beheshta earlier this morning. Unthinkable two decades ago when they were last in charge @TOLOnews pic.twitter.com/XzREQ6ZJ1a
— Saad Mohseni (@saadmohseni) August 17, 2021
At the same time, many women working in journalism in Afghanistan remain worried for their safety. One woman told The Guardian that "death threatens us at every moment."
PBS news correspondent Jane Ferguson wrote on Twitter that the presence of women on TV was a "test" for the Taliban. But, she asked, "Will this be tolerated long term?"
This is a real test of the #taliban. Will this be tolerated long term? https://t.co/H4iQmokDCf
— Jane Ferguson (@JaneFerguson5) August 17, 2021
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