Taliban shut women-run radio station in Afghanistan for allegedly playing music during Ramadan

The Taliban have shut down a women-run radio station in Afghanistan after accusing it of playing music during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, Associated Press reported on Saturday.

The station called Sadai Banowan, which means 'women's voice' in Dari, was the only women-run radio station in Afghanistan.

It has been running for the past ten years and employed eight people, including six women. 

Moezuddin Ahmadi, the director for information and culture in Afghanistan’s northeastern Badakhshan province said the radio station had violated the "laws and regulations of the Islamic Emirate" by broadcasting music during the holy Muslim month. 

"If this radio station accepts the policy of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan and gives a guarantee that it will not repeat such a thing again, we will allow it to operate again," Ahmadi said.

The station head Najia Sorosh denied the violation and alleged that Sadai Banowan had been arbitrarily shut down. 

"[The Taliban] told us that 'you have broadcast music'. We have not broadcast any kind of music," AP quoted her as saying. 

Journalists, especially women have been hit hard by the Taliban administration which came to power after the militant group seized control of Afghanistan in August 2021.

The administration barred women from most forms of employment and education, in moves widely condemned by the international community.