Afghan journalist pushed to sell street food in Taliban rule

CHENNAI: Afghanistan has been experiencing huge political and economic turbulence ever since the Taliban took over the country under their control. Despite the Taliban’s repeated assurances that they will safeguard human rights, civic space has diminished considerably since their return.

Kabir Haqmal, an ex-employee with the Hamid Karzai government highlights how the nation’s talents and professionals have been pushed to grieving poverty under the Taliban. Haqmal, recently shared the pictures of Musa Mohammadi, an Afghan Journalist, who he says, had been a part of the media sector for years. However, given the dreadful economic situation of Afghanistan, he has now been seen selling food in the streets of Kabul, to make ends meet, to feed his family.

“Journalists life in Afghanistan under the Taliban. Musa Mohammadi worked for years as an anchor & reporter in different TV channels, and now has no income to feed his family. & sells street food to earn some money. Afghans suffer unprecedented poverty after the fall of the republic,” he said in his Twitter post.

As per Reuters, Afghanistan is currently experiencing a humanitarian and economic crisis. In recent months, Taliban militants have threatened media outlets, with a number of journalists, particularly women, losing their jobs.

The story of Musa Mohammadi has gone viral on the internet. It even caught the attention of Ahmadullah Wasiq, the Director-General National Radio and Television. Translating his social media post, he said, “Unemployment of Musa Mohammadi, a spokesman for a private television station, rises on social media. As a matter of fact, as the director of the National Radio and Television, I assure him that we will appoint him within the framework of the National Radio and Television. We need all Afghan professionals."

The UN rights chief has raised concerns about the deteriorating situation in Afghanistan, stating that its people are experiencing some of "the darkest moments" in a generation. The nation’s per capita income has fallen by over a third in the last four months of 2021 making a dire national economy. "One of the poorest countries in the world has become much poorer," said Tobias Haque, World Bank Senior Country Economist for Afghanistan.