
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
Most recent headlines
05/01/2027
Worlds first 802.15.4ab-UWB chip verified by Calterah and Rohde & Schwarz to be ...
09/10/2026
September 10 2026, 06:00 (PDT) Dolby Expands Dolby OptiView Platform with New Capabilities at IBC 2026
New Sports Intelligence helps providers better unders...
07/10/2026
Dalet, a leading technology and service provider for media-rich organizations, today announced the latest Long-Term Supported (LTS) release of Dalet Flex. Build...
11/09/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
11/09/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
11/09/2026
Lightware has announced the launch of LARA (Lightware Advanced Room Automation) 2.0, a major upgrade to its built-in room automation platform, introducing impro...
11/09/2026
10 September 2026 - MusiMap, the B2B music intelligence company that is transforming how companies can harness the emotional power of music to reach consumers a...
11/09/2026
Matrox Video today announced an integration between Matrox ORIGIN and NVIDIA Holoscan for Media, enabling Matrox ORIGIN media services to be provisioned, config...
11/09/2026
Net Insight today announced that its cloud-native live media orchestration is now available through Oracle Cloud Marketplace, providing broadcasters, production...
11/09/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
11/09/2026
Version 1.8 will bring advanced routing control, new workflow tools, boosted control panel flexibility and ease of integration into IP networks...
11/09/2026
Ikegami announces four additions its UNICAM XE range of 4K-UHD cameras with the introduction of the UHK-X700VN, UHK-X750VN, UHK-X600VN and UHK-X650VN. Developed...
11/09/2026
DHD.audio has chosen IBC2026 as the launch venue for a major new addition to its broadcast sound production platform: the MX3 console range. MX3 retains the mod...
11/09/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
11/09/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
11/09/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
11/09/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
11/09/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
11/09/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
11/09/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
11/09/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
11/09/2026
New standalone solution gives production teams everything they need to create, produce and deliver live content from one flexible system.
Grass Valley today an...
11/09/2026
Recognition honors the development of FPV drone camera systems for live sports broadcast coverage
Wave Central, a Domo Broadcast Company that develops advanced...
11/09/2026
Teradek, the industry leader in zero-delay wireless video solutions, announced the launch of Bolt 7, which now includes a unified wireless video and data system...
11/09/2026
The ACT Entertainment tvONE and Green Hippo Pixel Academy has released its autumn course schedule, with hands-on training dates in September, October and Novemb...
11/09/2026
LA JOLLA, CA-Transthyretin amyloid disease (ATTR) is a progressive, life-threatening condition caused when the protein transthyretin (TTR) breaks apart and aggr...
11/09/2026
Major Update to Blackmagic Cloud
Brie Clayton September 10, 2026
0 Comments
Blackmagic Design has announced a major update to Blackmagic Cloud which a...
11/09/2026
Dalet Helps Media Organizations Navigate the Rise of Synthetic Content with NVID...
11/09/2026
RT has today announced Benetti Menswear as the sponsor of its 2026 Amgen Irish Open coverage for a sixth consecutive year, further strengthening the heritage c...
10/09/2026
Duff Foreman is an AI-generated announcer who will add color to this month's New Mexico Open...
10/09/2026
Bitmovin is rolling out Encoder Version 3, the next major release of the technology behind its VOD and Live Encoders. Version 3 is built on a premise every stre...
10/09/2026
At IBC2026, on booth 1.B47, Net Insight will showcase Open Live Media, its architecture for delivering resilient live media services across networks, partners, ...
10/09/2026
The Professional Women's Hockey League (PWHL) and Scripps Sports have announced a national broadcast rights agreement for the 2026-27 season, a landmark par...
10/09/2026
The Trusted Partner Network (TPN), the global content security initiative powere...
10/09/2026
The NFL is launching its most expansive creator programming yet, bringing togeth...
10/09/2026
Sportsnet is set to deliver its biggest hockey season ever with a national sched...
10/09/2026
LiveU is now a Clarus Integrated Reseller, bringing Starlink's fast, reliabl...
10/09/2026
Mimir is the cloud-native media production platform built for teams that need to move media fast across live, archive, web, social, and broadcast workflows. At ...
10/09/2026
ATSC is being honored with a 2026 Technology & Engineering Emmy Award by the Nat...
10/09/2026
Audio-Technica has introduced the BP880R Contact Transducer, a specialized micro...
10/09/2026
TMRW Sports in partnership with the LPGA, today announced multiyear U.S. media rights agreements with ESPN and Scripps Sports/ION to bring WTGL, the new women...
10/09/2026
SportsNet Pittsburgh (SNP) in partnership with Major League Baseball and the Pit...
10/09/2026
Tennis Channel announced today its launch as a Premium Subscription on The Roku Channel.
Tennis Channel offers viewers a single home for Tennis Channel and Ten...
10/09/2026
Dolby has announced major updates to Dolby OptiView, its live sports platform, ahead of IBC 2026. The updates include new AI-powered intelligence to better unde...
10/09/2026
Dalet has appointed Brian Doheny as CEO. Doheny joined Dalet as President and Chief Revenue Officer in April 2026. Since joining Dalet, Doheny has led the compa...
10/09/2026
Sony, as well as its partner company Nevion, is starting IBC 2026 with a handful of announcements for attendees to see on the show floor.
Sony Announces the 4t...
10/09/2026
The six-year-old venue is expanding capabilities for NFL action, Super Bowl LXI, 2028 Summer Olympics
SoFi Stadium, as well as the surrounding area known as Ho...
10/09/2026
Editing, restoration & mastering suite upgraded Acon Digital Acoustica 8 audio editing restoration mastering software.
Acon Digital have just launched the la...
10/09/2026
Classic synths & drum machines available to play
Based in Reading, UK, Readipop are a music and arts charity with a long track record of innovative, partici...
10/09/2026
Popular model updated & new addition introduced
With many of the models in Neumann's KH family now boasting onboard DSP and support for the company'...