In the room with the Taliban: words from one of the only female reporters left in Afghanistan

This text is a part of a Fox Information Digital collection analyzing the results of the U.S. army withdrawal from Afghanistan one 12 months in the past this week.

Life below Taliban rule has had a crippling impact in Afghanistan as ladies have seen their rights to schooling and employment stripped from them – in some cases by drive. 

The suppression of primary human rights has largely been enforced via intimidation and overt threats, nonetheless one 32-year-old feminine journalist informed Fox Information Digital these efforts haven’t staunched her dedication to proceed working below Taliban rule.

“I inform them, ‘Don’t think about me as a girl, think about me as a journalist’,” Meena Habib informed Fox Information Digital from her Kabul house with the assistance of a translator. “I’m nonetheless energetic every day performing my responsibility. Regardless of all these restrictions I proceed to be loyal to my folks and my career.”

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Habib has turn out to be considered one of Afghanistan’s final feminine reporters, and she or he has continued to push for entry to Taliban-led press conferences because the rebel group took over one 12 months in the past.

In photos shared with Fox Information Digital, Habib is seen sitting on a carpeted ground donning a conventional hijab to cowl her hair and huge sun shades in order that simply her nostril peeks out from her darkish garb as she takes notes. She seems to be the one girl within the crowded room.

The picture shouldn’t be a uncommon prevalence Habib stated, explaining that she usually finds herself “the one feminine journalist sitting round [with] the militants within the Taliban.”

“They inform me you don’t have anything to do with journalism as a girl,” she stated, describing her makes an attempt to realize entry to Taliban-led conferences and press occasions.

Meena Habib sits in Taliban led press convention.

The journalism trade all through Afghanistan noticed a pointy decline in exercise over the past 12 months with 60% of the media work drive having ceased their exercise – however ladies had been impacted probably the most, in keeping with findings by Reporters With out Borders. 

Over 76% of feminine journalists misplaced their jobs since Kabul fell to the Taliban. Those that have remained are topic to Taliban’s “11 guidelines of journalism,” which discourages any reporting that “may have a damaging affect on the general public’s angle.”

Habib, who defined that the majority ladies have stopped reporting from the sector, described for Fox Information Digital quite a few threatening encounters she has confronted amid her makes an attempt to cowl life in Afghanistan, together with earlier this month. 

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Meena Habib is likely one of the few remaining feminine journalists persevering with her work following Taliban takeover.

“A Taliban [man] got here in the direction of me with a machete and wished to hit my digicam,” she stated describing the second Taliban officers took coordinated motion to disperse dozens of girls who took to the streets of Kabul this month to demand the return of their primary human rights.

“The Taliban [were] stopping journalists from taking photos,” she added. 

Habib was in a position to flee the scene however fell throughout the chaos and damage her leg, although her digicam this time was spared she stated.

The scene earlier this month echoed comparable occasions that came about on September 8, 2021, simply sooner or later after the Taliban introduced its “caretaker authorities” and tons of of Afghan ladies hit the streets for a ladies’s rights rally.

The occasions that unfolded one week following the official U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan laid out the “tense” future Habib and others would face below the Taliban.

“[The] Taliban arrested me and broke my digicam,” she stated.  “They beat me.”

Habib didn’t permit the day’s occasions or any of the next threats in opposition to her life cease her from persevering with her work. 

“This can be a mission for me,” she stated. 

Meena Habib sits surrounded by Taliban members

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Habib’s persistence has paid off in some cases, and she or he has gained entry to some authorities occasions and press conferences – although not at all times with out reprisal. 

“Among the Taliban members had a very good relationship with us,” she defined, referring to earlier relations she and others shared with Taliban media officers. 

Former spokesman of the Ministry of Inside, Saeed Khosti, was fired after a December 2021 journalism convention the place he posed for an image with Habib and two different ladies. 

The opposite feminine reporters had been additionally fired from their positions, and Habib was pressured to cover out after she obtained threatening calls from somebody she suspected was within the Taliban. 

“They trouble feminine journalists – harassment,” she defined. “To terrify them.”

Habib informed Fox Information Digital she may have fled Afghanistan throughout the U.S.’s withdrawal, however she determined to remain, saying she is not going to cease her work till restrictions on ladies and the media are lifted.

Meena Habib and others pose for image in December 2021 with the previous spokesman of the Ministry of Inside earlier than he was terminated.

“This can be a man ruling nation,” she stated. “After all, there are threats of arrest or additional bother. I selected this career – it isn’t a rustic that’s pleasant to journalists. However regardless of all these threats I stay dedicated to my career, and I proceed working.”

Fox Information Digital requested if Habib would love her id hid for her safety, however she refused and stated, “I stand by my feedback.”

“Lady largely undergo,” she added. “However they want entry to data and as a feminine journalist I’m making an attempt to offer no matter data is feasible.”