''The Afghan Times'' is an independent, online news outlet founded in August 2022. Operated primarily by Afghan journalists, the publication focuses on

human rights Human rights are universally recognized Morality, moral principles or Social norm, norms that establish standards of human behavior and are often protected by both Municipal law, national and international laws. These rights are considered ...

and

women's issues Feminism is a range of socio-political movements and ideologies that aim to define and establish the political, economic, personal, and social equality of the sexes. Feminism holds the position that modern societies are patriarchal—th ...

. The outlet provides content in

Pashto Pashto ( , ; , ) is an eastern Iranian language in the Indo-European language family, natively spoken in northwestern Pakistan and southern and eastern Afghanistan. It has official status in Afghanistan and the Pakistani province of Khyb ...

Dari Dari (; endonym: ), Dari Persian (, , or , ), or Eastern Persian is the variety of the Persian language spoken in Afghanistan. Dari is the Afghan government's official term for the Persian language;Lazard, G.Darī – The New Persian ...

and

English English usually refers to: * English language * English people English may also refer to: Culture, language and peoples * ''English'', an adjective for something of, from, or related to England * ''English'', an Amish ter ...

Salma Niazi Salma Niazi (born 2001) is an Afghan journalist and the founder of The Afghan Times. Fleeing to Pakistan in 2021 after the Taliban recaptured Afghanistan, she continues her journalistic endeavors in exile. Niazi was born in a village in Laghman P ...

, a 23-year-old journalist from

Laghman province Laghman (Persian language, Persian/Pashto: ) is one of the 34 provinces of Afghanistan, located in the eastern part of the country. It has a population of about 502,148, which is multi-ethnic and mostly a rural society. Laghman hosts a large numbe ...

, Afghanistan, and Saeedullah Safi established ''The Afghan Times'' while in exile in

Pakistan Pakistan, officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by population, fifth-most populous country, with a population of over 241.5 million, having the Islam by country# ...

. Niazi's decision to enter

journalism Journalism is the production and distribution of reports on the interaction of events, facts, ideas, and people that are the "news of the day" and that informs society to at least some degree of accuracy. The word, a noun, applies to the journ ...

was motivated by the lack of female representation in the media in her region. Her career began at a local level, but following the Taliban's return to power in 2021, she was forced to flee

Afghanistan Afghanistan, officially the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central Asia and South Asia. It is bordered by Pakistan to the Durand Line, east and south, Iran to the Afghanistan–Iran borde ...

due to increasing restrictions and threats against female journalists.

Content

''The Afghan Times'' aims to document and challenge the Taliban's restrictions on women by reporting on their impact through a female perspective. The publication features articles on issues like the Taliban ban on women working, their exclusion from education under the repressive Taliban rule, and the everyday struggles of Afghan women. It also covers broader

topics and seeks to engage both local and international audiences. Know Their Stories The "Know Their Stories" section of ''The Afghan Times'' highlights the struggles of Afghan children, focusing on issues such as

child labor Child labour is the exploitation of children through any form of work that interferes with their ability to attend regular school, or is mentally, physically, socially and morally harmful. Such exploitation is prohibited by legislation w ...

, education, and healthcare. These stories reveal the daily hardships children face, particularly in conflict zones and regions impacted by poverty. Through personal accounts, the campaign aims to raise awareness and advocate for improved conditions for Afghanistan's younger population. Open Mic The Open Mic - podcast by ''The Afghan Times'' provides a platform for Afghan women to share their opinions, ideas, and personal stories on various topics. It encourages public participation, offering a space for voices often unheard in mainstream media. Magazine The Afghan Times magazine is dedicated to amplifying the voices and stories of Afghan women. It focuses on the struggles, achievements, and contributions of women in various aspects of life, including social, political, and cultural spheres. The magazine aims to empower women by addressing issues such as gender equality, education, and leadership, while providing a platform for women to share their experiences and advocate for change within Afghan society.

Challenges

Operating under the Taliban's regime presents significant risks for the journalists of ''The Afghan Times'', especially those still in

who can only report in secret. The outlet's reporters use pseudonyms to protect their identities. Despite these dangers, the publication persists in its mission to shed light on the plight of

Afghan women Women's rights in Afghanistan are severely restricted by the Taliban. In 2023, the United Nations termed Afghanistan as the world's most repressive country for women. Since the 2020–2021 U.S. troop withdrawal from Afghanistan, US troops with ...

and hold the Taliban accountable for their actions. The work of ''The Afghan Times'' has garnered international attention and support, highlighting the resilience of Afghan women journalists. Afghan Times Reporter Wins Young Journalist of the Year 2024 by

Thomson Foundation The Thomson Foundation is a media development not-for-profit organisation based in London, United Kingdom but operating worldwide. It was founded in 1962 and was the first charitable foundation with the specific aim of training journalists in deve ...

Current Status

Funded initially by Niazi's personal savings, ''The Afghan Times'' seeks sustainable financial support to continue its operations and potentially expand its staff. The publication remains a crucial platform for Afghan women, providing a voice amid widespread censorship and repression. Niazi's ultimate goal is to secure a safe environment where she can continue advocating for Afghan women's rights and ensure their stories are heard globally.

References

External links

* Afghan news websites News media in Afghanistan {{Afghanistan-media-stub Newspapers published in Afghanistan Mass media in Kabul Mass media in Afghanistan stubs Mass media in Afghanistan by city Mass media in Afghanistan Exile organizations 2020 establishments in Asia Organizations established in 2020 Pashto-language newspapers

Content

Challenges

Current Status

See also

References

External links