Presenters and reporters of the morning news in the main Afghan broadcasters appeared on Sunday wearing headscarves and face veils or masks that only left their eyes visible. The day before, many of them had resisted and had shown their faces uncovered.
The notorious Ministry for the Promotion of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice had ordered all female TV journalists to appear with their faces covered from Saturday. It thus enforced a decree from Taliban leader Hibatullah Achundsada, according to which women and especially female government employees should only appear in public in full veils.
Failure to do so may result in termination
They face dismissal if they disregard the rules. Fathers, husbands or male guardians of the women affected also face penalties – as do TV executives who fail to enforce this order.
“We fought back, we didn’t want to wear masks,” said moderator Sonja Niasi from the TOLOnews broadcaster on Sunday to the AFP news agency. “But TOLOnews was pressured”. According to her, the broadcaster should transfer or fire all female journalists who – as has been the norm up to now – only appear with a headscarf. “We were then forced to cover our mouths and noses.” TOLOnews director Chpolwak Sapai confirmed Niasi’s statements. “We were told, ‘You have to do it. There’s no other way,'” Sapai said. “I was called yesterday and asked in no uncertain terms. We don’t do it voluntarily.”
solidarity of male colleagues
In solidarity with the moderators, male journalists and staff from TOLOnews also wore face masks in the offices on Sunday, an AFP correspondent reported. Meanwhile, other employees of the station left their faces uncovered. By order of the authorities, the television stations have already stopped showing films and series in which women play a role.
Source: Nachrichten
