News Center - Following an order from Afghanistan's Taliban for television presenters to appear on air wearing a niqab while presenting news and programs, a number of Afghan journalists wore black masks in solidarity with their fellow broadcasters.

Discriminatory and anti-women regulations have been passed in Afghanistan since the Taliban took the control, the most recent of which being the banning of female presenters from appearing on television. The Taliban's actions have sparked debate in the press, on social media, and in political circles.

The Afghan media had anticipated that their synchronized activity would persuade the Taliban to drop this issue, but the Taliban argued that it was definitive and not up for debate.

A day after rejecting the Taliban's command not to wear the niqab, Afghan female journalists and broadcasters appeared on television half-faced on Sunday, May 22.