One of the three finalists for the Young Journalist of the Year 2024 is a woman journalist working in secret in Afghanistan because of the restrictions imposed by the Taliban. She works for The Afghan Times which was founded by Afghan women journalists in exile. In this Q & A she explains how she manages to report under the severe constraints.
What difficulties do you face working as a woman journalist in Afghanistan? As a woman journalist in Afghanistan, I face constant threats to my safety and my ability to work. The Taliban's outright ban on women's voices and presence in journalism means I must operate in secrecy, constantly fearful of being discovered. I can no longer work openly, and I have to rely on trusted networks to communicate, gather information, and publish stories. It's also nearly impossible to access government sources or official channels, as the Taliban refuses to engage with women journalists. My work is further complicated by the stigma attached to female reporters, who are often targeted for violence and harassment, even by civilians influenced by Taliban ideology.
Tell us about the stories you submitted for the Award. The stories I submitted highlight the severe and ongoing challenges faced by Afghan women under Taliban rule.
The first article focuses on the closure of women-only restaurants, which were some of the few safe spaces left for Afghan women workers. It was extremely difficult to obtain interviews with women because many fear retaliation from the Taliban for speaking out. I had to rely on clandestine communication methods and work with sources who were equally committed to bringing the truth to light, but who also faced significant risks.
The Afghan Times
The second piece documents the devastating impact of flooding on Afghan women, already marginalized and vulnerable under Taliban policies. For this I had to navigate dangerous terrain, both physically and politically. The Taliban heavily restricts women's access to areas where they might be able to report on these issues, and their suppression of women's voices in media made it difficult to collect first hand accounts. Additionally, security risks, including surveillance by the Taliban, made it dangerous to gather information in person.
The Afghan Times
The third report explores the crisis of child labour in Afghanistan, which has been exacerbated by the Taliban's ban on women's right to work, driving more families into poverty and forcing children into exploitative labour. Engaging with them without compromising their safety required careful coordination, often through secret channels.
The Afghan Times
How has life changed for you recently? The situation for women journalists has become even more perilous since the Taliban returned to power in 2021. Previously, despite the difficulties, women could still work in media and report on issues affecting Afghan society. Now, the environment is suffocating; women are no longer allowed to participate in public life or hold professional roles, and the media itself has become heavily censored. Access to sources, information, and the ability to move freely have been drastically curtailed. The threat of violence or imprisonment for doing my job has escalated, and many of my colleagues have either fled the country or gone into deep hiding.
Can you describe the normal working day now for a woman journalist working in Afghanistan? A normal working day for a woman journalist like me is fraught with anxiety and isolation. I cannot go to a newsroom or conduct interviews in public. I work from hidden locations, often through encrypted communication tools, relying on a small and trusted circle of sources. My reporting requires extensive planning and discretion; every interaction must be calculated to avoid detection by the Taliban. Fear of surveillance means I have to work quickly and leave no digital footprint that could be traced back to me. What used to be routine-such as interviewing subjects, travelling to report on a story, or fact-checking information-now feels like navigating a minefield. Every day could be my last as a journalist in this country.
With all the challenges you face, why is it important for you to continue to tell the stories of the women in Afghanistan? Despite the dangers, it is essential for me to continue telling the stories of Afghan women because their voices are being systematically silenced. The international community often forgets the everyday struggles faced by Afghan women, who are not only oppressed but also erased from the public sphere. If I stop reporting, the reality of their suffering may never reach the outside world. My work is one of the few ways to bear witness to their lives and resist the Taliban's attempts to render them invisible. The stories of Afghan women are stories of resilience, courage, and survival. By telling their stories, I hope to give them a platform and inspire action that can lead to change.
What impact do your stories have? My stories shine a light on the ongoing atrocities committed against Afghan women, helping to raise awareness both within Afghanistan and internationally. They provide a voice to the voiceless, especially those who cannot speak for fear of reprisal. Through my reporting, I aim to mobilise international support and pressure on the Taliban to reconsider their policies, as well as to spark dialogue around the plight of Afghan women.
What or who inspires you to keep working as a journalist? I am inspired by the incredible strength of Afghan women who, despite facing overwhelming oppression, continue to fight for their dignity and rights. They risk their lives every day to keep their families alive, pursue education in secret, or speak out against injustice. Their resilience fuels my determination to keep working, even when I feel overwhelmed by f
Europe Stories
11/12/2024
Turner is the former general manager of Harris Broadcast's media software business
By Jenny Priestley
Published: December 11, 2024
Turner is the forme...
11/12/2024
Under a multi-year Blanket Purchase Agreement, SES Space & Defense will provide multi-orbit, multi-band commercial satellite services to USEUCOM leveraging an a...
11/12/2024
Gear id will take to the floor with a same-sex male dance partner in new season ...
10/12/2024
Pioneering satellite communication technology supports critical GEO/NGSO trackin...
10/12/2024
EditShare Announces Brad Turner as New Chief Executive Officer
Boston, MA, 10 December 2024 - EditShare, a leading provider of collaborative workflow solution...
10/12/2024
TVBEurope talks to Peter Bellamy about his appointment as CRO at Deltatre, and w...
10/12/2024
Shares in Canal will be traded in London, Paris and Amsterdam
By Matthew Corrigan
Published: December 10, 2024 Updated: December 11, 2024
Shares in Can...
10/12/2024
The Portal offers technology buyers and vendors insights into the broadcast and media technology, pro AV, ad tech and sports industries
By Jenny Priestley
Pu...
10/12/2024
Since its release, Jacques Audiard s Emilia P rez has emerged as a landmark feature, earning widespread acclaim from critics and garnering significant recogniti...
10/12/2024
Rohde & Schwarz sets new standard for network performance monitoring with R&S LC...
10/12/2024
To coincide with the release of Gladiator 2', we wanted to highlight St phane Buchers work with director Ridley Scott. This collaboration began in 2020, fo...
10/12/2024
CUPERTINO, CALIFORNIA Apple today launched three new live global radio stations on Apple Music. Music fans around the world can now tune in to Apple M sica Uno,...
10/12/2024
Over 1.6 million people watched across the weekend
Record breaking RT Player Toy Show Streams in Ireland and Abroad with 622,000 streams from 139 countries
O...
10/12/2024
This Sunday night (15 December, 9.30pm), live on RT One and RT Player, Joanne Cantwell, Darragh Maloney and Jacqui Hurley will present the RT Sport Awards 20...
10/12/2024
Actor and producer Danny O'Carroll, best known for portraying Buster Brady o...
09/12/2024
Reflecting the three stars on screen, Only Murders in the Building relies on a trio of editors to help bring the comedy and intrigue of the show to the screen
...
09/12/2024
Patrick Hastings will assume overall responsibility for the operational delivery of client requirements globally, said the company
By Jenny Priestley
Publish...
09/12/2024
Reynolds takes over from Tom Cotney who moves into the role of non-executive chairman of Imagines board
By Jenny Priestley
Published: December 9, 2024 Upda...
09/12/2024
Collaboration under the GESAC program, a federal government initiative promoting...
09/12/2024
9 December 2024, 18:00 (PST) Emperor Cinemas to Adopt New Dolby Vision Dolby ...
09/12/2024
09 Dec 2024
VEON Approves Launch of the Initial USD 30 Million Phase of its Sha...
09/12/2024
First look at Matt Smith in Sky Original The Death of Bunny Munro', coming ...
09/12/2024
Sky U.K & Ireland and Warner Bros. Discovery announce new distribution and bundl...
09/12/2024
Sky Arts celebrates the tenth anniversary of Landscape Artist of the Year with a...
09/12/2024
Sky & NOW what to watch 2025Monday 9 December 2024
It's been a busy year, but 2025 has an almighty line-up of new telly and brand-new movies coming to Sky ...
09/12/2024
TAIPEI, Taiwan, and SAN JOSE, Calif. - Dec. 9, 2024 - Sercomm (TWSE: 5388) and H...
09/12/2024
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Thales and Avinor have partnered to implement No...
09/12/2024
Next Sunday night (15 December, 9.30pm) live on RT One and RT Player, Joanne Cantwell, Darragh Maloney and Jacqui Hurley will present the RT Sport Awards 202...
09/12/2024
Joanne Cantwell, Darragh Maloney and Jacqui Hurley will present the RT Sport Awards 2024 live from Studio 4 in RT at 9:30pm next Sunday 15 December. The Award...
09/12/2024
T cl r nua c rsa reatha i nGaeilge ag tosn ar RT One F ram
For m New current affairs programme in Irish on RT One
Begins this Sunday, 8 December
F r...
09/12/2024
Dancing with the Stars welcomes a new judge for 2025
Two-time Dancing with the Stars winner Karen Byrne to join the Dancing with the Stars judging panel in Jan...
09/12/2024
Aishah Akorede revealed as the first celebrity contestant for Dancing with the S...
09/12/2024
RT Investigates reveals sale of unapproved US weight loss trial medication expo...
09/12/2024
Dalet, a leading technology and service provider for media-rich organizations, today announced that it has been named an IDC Innovator in the IDC Innovators: ...
07/12/2024
This week saw the release of 2024 Spotify Wrapped, and we've been celebrating our biggest Wrapped to date with global influencers, fans, artists, media, and...
06/12/2024
2024 Wrapped has arrived, and millions of people around the world are sharing th...
06/12/2024
Codemills approach to AI focuses on solving real-world problems through user-centric tools like Accurate.Video. By streamlining compliance, localization, and qu...
06/12/2024
At one third of the weight of its predecessor, ALEXA 265 features a revised 65mm sensor retaining 6.5K resolution with higher dynamic range, said ARRI
By Matth...
06/12/2024
The collaboration aims to increase the availability of 3D content for both creators and audience
By Matthew Corrigan
Published: December 6, 2024
The colla...
06/12/2024
IAN BONH TE & PETER ETTEDGUI'S AWARD-WINNING SUPER/MAN: THE CHRISTOPHER REEV...
06/12/2024
Believe it or not, it's that time of year again where we begin our festive season of giving with our fifth round of Give Back Fridays!
First up is a donati...
06/12/2024
Award-winning strategy built on programmes designed to address every aspect of wellbeing
06 December, 2024 - Winchester, UK. We are thrilled to announce that A...
06/12/2024
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Sentinel-1C will supply vital radar imagery for understanding climate change and preserving our planet
Kourou, December 6, 2024...
06/12/2024
32 children will represent their county in the Toy Show Parade
Tune in tonight at 9:35PM on RT One and worldwide on RT Player
#LateLateToyShow
It's Toy...
05/12/2024
eds3_5_jq(document).ready(function($) { $(#eds_sliderM519).chameleonSlider_2_1({ content_source:......
05/12/2024
Balancing innovation with financial responsibility is vital for medias future. Codemills tools like Accurate.Video streamline workflows, integrate AI for effici...
05/12/2024
Luxembourg, 7 November 2024 -- SES S.A. announces financial results for the nine months and three months ended 30 September 2024 with solid operational and fina...
05/12/2024
05 Dec 2024
VEON and Engro Corp Announce Strategic Partnership for Telecommunic...
05/12/2024
Sky Deutschland remains the home of the Bundesliga and 2. Bundesliga until 2029:...
One of the three finalists for the Young Journalist of the Year 2024 is a woman journalist working in secret in Afghanistan because of the restrictions imposed by the Taliban. She works for The Afghan Times which was founded by Afghan women journalists in exile. In this Q & A she explains how she manages to report under the severe constraints. 
