The Afghan ministry of information and culture announced on Tuesday that it has suspended a women’s radio station, Radio Begum, due to what it described as the unauthorized distribution of content to a foreign television network.

This marks the second incident where authorities have closed an outlet for allegedly engaging with international media.

According to the ministry, Radio Begum breached broadcasting regulations and misused its operating license. “This action follows multiple infractions, including the unauthorized sharing of content and programming with a foreign-based TV channel,” the ministry stated, emphasizing that it will evaluate all relevant documents to decide the future of the station.

Radio Begum was founded on March 8, 2021, coinciding with International Women’s Day, just five months prior to the Taliban’s takeover as U.S. and NATO troops withdrew from Afghanistan.

The station’s programming is exclusively developed by Afghan women. Its counterpart, Begum TV, operates out of France and offers educational content that corresponds to the Afghan school curriculum for grades seven through twelve.

Human rights organizations, such as Reporters Without Borders, have spoken out against the suspension, calling for its immediate reversal.

Since the Taliban regained control of the country, women have been systematically barred from educational opportunities, various professions, and public spaces. The media landscape has also suffered, with numerous journalists, particularly women, losing their positions as the Taliban imposes stricter regulations.

According to the 2024 press freedom index released by Reporters Without Borders, Afghanistan ranks 178 out of 180 nations, a significant drop from the previous year’s position of 152.

The information ministry did not specify which foreign television channel Radio Begum was allegedly collaborating with. In May, the Taliban had previously issued warnings to journalists and experts in Afghanistan to refrain from cooperating with Afghanistan International TV.

This was the first instance wherein they directed individuals to cease collaboration with a particular media outlet.