Male staff at Afghanistan’s Tolo TV wear face masks to show solidarity with their female colleagues at the Kabul studio.
Male Afghan news presenters wore masks during broadcasts to show solidarity with female colleagues told to cover their faces under new Taliban rules. Afghan male journalists also began sharing pictures on social media of themselves wearing the COVID- style masks.
Female television anchors were directed to cover their faces from Sunday under an edict from the Taliban’s Ministry of vice and virtue.
The directive followed a nationwide proclamation that women outside the home should cover their faces, preferably with the burqa. Women who had no important work outside would be better to stay at home, the order said.
Female newsreaders were then told to obey the rules on Thursday. At first, only a handful of news outlets complied. But on Sunday (22.05.2022) , most female anchors have seen with their faces covered.
Women’s rights campaigners have accused the Taliban of attempting to erase women from public life in Afghanistan. Girls have been blocked from secondary school and women have been told they cannot travel alone.
