Identifying with women, Taliban rebels: Broadcasters in Afghanistan wear face masks on TV

After the Taliban issued an order requiring all women who broadcast on news channels to cover their faces during the broadcast, a viral campaign spread on the social networks of broadcasters who identify with their colleagues - and protest against the order despite the danger

News agencies

24/05/2022

Tuesday, 24 May 2022, 17:48 Updated: 18:14

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Television presenters in Afghanistan began wearing face masks as they broadcast in solidarity with the presenters, after the Taliban issued an order requiring all women presenters on news channels to cover their faces during the broadcast.

On social media, the hashtag called #FreeHerFace has gone viral, and in posts, among other things, men are seen on the TV network Tolo News wearing masks.

The Taliban's Ministry of Modesty and Morality last week ordered all Afghan media outlets to use face masks in case a woman broadcasts the news.

The decision is final and undisputed, the ministry said.

The Ministry of Modesty and Morality declared that wearing a hijab is "necessary", and that the recommended type is burqa and Arab black hijab.

Afghan TV broadcaster wears a mask out of sympathy with the broadcasters (Photo: official website, screenshot from Twitter)

An Afghan TV broadcaster is wearing a mask

twitter

In early May an order was issued that all women must cover their faces in public, and a fine or imprisonment is expected for male relatives if the women do not obey the order.

Many women in cities like Kabul, including TV presenters, violated the order.

During the nine months of Taliban rule, TV presenters have also been forced to stop wearing modern and colorful clothing and must now wear long dresses.

Former Afghan President Hamid Karzai calls on women to violate Taliban order (Photo: Reuters)

In an interview with CNN, former Afghan President Hamid Karzai called on broadcasters to violate the Taliban's order and not wear masks on the air.

The Taliban's official Twitter account replied: "In the last two decades, Mr Kazai wanted all kinds of freedom for the Afghan sisters and paved the way for freedoms that delighted foreigners, but his wife did not appear on any media channel."

Under the new order, the first time a woman violates the order, the Taliban will advise and guide her.

The second time, summon her.

For the third time she is expected to spend three days in jail.

A fourth step will be taken against the man or escort of the woman who did not cover her face: he will be taken to court and sentenced to a proper sentence.

An Afghan TV presenter said in an interview with the Guardian that only when he wore a mask for two days did he realize how difficult it is to be a woman in a country like Afghanistan.

"When I saw my colleague wearing a mask on her face during a broadcast, I cried. Then I decided to wear a mask and protest."

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