In Afghanistan, where women’s presence in public life has been increasingly restricted, a women-led radio station is keeping female voices alive on air. Radio Begum, founded by Afghan journalist Hamida Anan, has become a rare platform where women can still speak, learn and share experiences.

Operating with a team of around 30 women, the station broadcasts across much of Afghanistan, though female voices remain banned from media in several provinces. Despite these challenges, the station continues to deliver programmes focused on education, health and women’s rights.

A radio station created by women

Radio Begum was launched in March 2021, just months before the Taliban returned to power. Hamida Anan, who grew up in Switzerland after fleeing Afghanistan as a child, returned to Kabul following the fall of the Taliban regime in 2001 to help rebuild the country’s media landscape.

The station was created as a platform for women, by women. In its early days, it featured music, entertainment programmes and interviews celebrating the achievements of Afghan women.

However, after the Taliban takeover in August 2021, strict new rules forced the station to rapidly change its programming. Music broadcasts stopped and entertainment programmes were reduced in order to comply with the authorities.

Broadcasting despite restrictions

Women journalists working at the station face strict limitations. They can interview only women and cannot remain alone in a studio with a man. Travel across the city is also difficult due to restrictions on women’s movement.

Even so, Radio Begum continues its daily broadcasts. Founder Hamida Anan says that hearing a woman’s voice on the radio today is rare in Afghanistan.

“When you switch between channels, you only hear men’s voices,” she explained. “Hearing a woman’s voice in this male-dominated space feels like a small light in the darkness.”

Education through the airwaves

One of the station’s most significant initiatives is providing education for girls who are unable to attend school.

As restrictions on girls’ education expanded, Radio Begum began broadcasting six hours of lessons daily based on the Afghan school curriculum. Programmes are aired in both Dari and Pashto, allowing girls across the country to continue learning from home.

The station also hosts programmes on health, psychological well-being, entrepreneurship and social issues. Many shows are broadcast live, giving listeners the opportunity to call in and ask questions.

Promoting rights through faith

To discuss women’s rights in a sensitive environment, Radio Begum often refers to Islamic teachings.

Female scholars explain passages from the Qur’an on air, highlighting women’s rights to inheritance, education and family matters. According to Anan, this approach helps ensure the discussions remain acceptable under the current restrictions.

Listeners regularly share stories of how the programmes have helped them assert their rights or improve family relationships.

A rare space for women’s voices

Despite operating under constant pressure, Radio Begum continues to provide a crucial space for Afghan women to connect and be heard.

For many listeners, the station represents more than a media platform — it offers information, support and a sense of community in a country where women are increasingly excluded from public life.

As Hamida Anan explains, when institutions fail to support women, initiatives like Radio Begum must step in to ensure their voices are not silenced.