March 5, 2026
Ghazni, Ghazni province — The Afghanistan Journalists Center(AFJC) condemns the recent closure of Radio Khushal in Ghazni province by de facto authorities, an act that severely undermines press freedom and violates the rights of journalists and the public to access diverse sources of information. This suppression follows the station’s efforts to communicate with female listeners about educational content, despite existing restrictions on women’s participation in media engagement in the region.
Khushal Radio’s office was shut down on Wednesday, March 4, after interactions via telephone between girls and the station—regarding educational programs aimed at women and girls deprived of higher education under current restrictions. The de facto provincial authorities issued a statement claiming the station was “closed by the Provincial Cultural Committee due to violations of religious, cultural, and social values,” without providing specific details or evidence.
A local journalist from Ghazni, who requested anonymity citing safety concerns, informed AFJC that the authorities have already prohibited girls from communicating with the media and have warned local outlets against engaging in such activities. The station’s programming, which focuses on educational content for women and girls—who are increasingly marginalized under the regime—has reportedly provoked the authorities’ ire, leading to its shutdown. Efforts by Radio Khushal to provide educational programming and facilitate communication through phone calls have faced repression.
In addition to the prohibition on higher education for women, the Taliban de facto authorities have severely restricted communication between girls and media outlets via telephone in most provinces. In some areas, official directives have been issued to media organizations explicitly stating that the dissemination of women's voices is completely forbidden.
The Khushal Radio station was launched in 2024 in Ghazni city. This private media outlet produced and broadcast programs covering political, economic, social, cultural, and religious topics. Prior to this, two former managers of Khushal Radio were detained due to their writings and expressions concerning the Taliban and the social conditions of the populace, and they subsequently spent a period incarcerated.
AFJC urges the de facto authorities in Ghazni to immediately reverse their decision, reopen Radio Khushal, and ensure the safety and operational independence of its staff. Such actions constitute a clear violation of international standards on media freedom, which protect journalists and media outlets from censorship, intimidation, and repression based on their content or the issues they cover.
This incident underscores the urgent need for authorities to respect the rights of women and girls to access information and participate in societal discourse. Suppressing educational programming and communication channels not only infringes upon fundamental human rights but also hampers societal development and progress.
AFJC calls on the international community to press for accountability and to support efforts aimed at restoring media freedoms and safeguarding human rights in Afghanistan. We also call on the de facto authorities to cease all acts of intimidation, censorship, and repression against journalists and media outlets, and to uphold their obligations under international human rights law.