Memorable day for radio newsreader

Published November 14, 2001

KABUL, Nov 13: The capture of Kabul by the Northern Alliance was a memorable day for a woman radio announcer.

The radio newsreader, 40-year-old Jamila Mujahid, had been on the air before the Taliban took over and sacked the women staff, telling them to go home and look after their children.

On Tuesday officials visited her home to ask her to resume her work at Kabul’s radio station.

“I don’t believe this. I never thought that a time would come when I would be reading the news again. As I read the news this morning it was like a dream,” she said.

Her colleague, Fraida Hela, 23, worked for Radio Afghanistan for a year before the Taliban seized the city.

“I felt very oppressed when I was forced to stay at home. I was deprived of life. When one of my colleagues came to my house today and asked me to read the news I was so happy I couldn’t think of anything else,” she said.

Mustafa Farhad, a male announcer who stayed with the radio station after the Taliban took over and renamed it Radio Shariat, said he was delighted to be working with women again.

“I’m very happy to have my sisters back in the studio. Finally they are able to serve the people again,” he said.—AFP

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