Afghanistan's female-run Radio Sation Shut Down for "Playing Music"

A female-run radio station was closed in the northeastern region of Afghanistan. This step was taken for playing music during the month of Ramadan.

The first and only female-run radio station named Sadai Banowan was started 10 years ago and comprises 8 staff members out of which 6 are only female.

As per Moezuddin Ahmadi, the director for Information and Culture at Badakhshan, this radio station has violated the "laws and regulations of the Islamic Emirate" several times during Ramadan by playing music.

According to Moezuddin, the radio station will be only permitted to function again if it accepts all the policies of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan and also guarantees that it won't repeat such things in the future.

The head of the radio station, Najia Sorosh denied any violation and claimed that there was no need for the shutdown of the station. She further said that it was all part of a conspiracy. She even mentioned that the staff of the radio station has not played any kind of music as claimed by the Taliban.

The station was shut down at 11:40 am on Thursday by the Vice and Virtue Directorate and representatives from the Ministry of Information and Culture.