Afghan news anchor Beheshta Arghand takes a photo at a temporary residence complex in Doha, Qatar on September 1, 2020. REUTERS/Hamad II Mohammed
After the Taliban took Kabul, Beheshta Arghand conducted a remarkable live interview.
TOLO News' anchor claims that the leader arrived unannounced and requested to be interviewed.
Arghand, who fled Afghanistan in the meantime, stated that she felt fortunate to be wearing loose clothes.
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A female anchor for TV news did an extraordinary interview live with a Taliban official. She said that he came to the studio unannounced, asked to be interviewed and she said she felt fortunate that she was wearing long clothes.
Beheshta Arghand (24 years old) interviewed a Taliban leader two days after they seized Kabul.
Grace Panetta, Insider's Grace Panetta, reported that she was the first female TV host who conducted a sit-down interview live with a Taliban leader.
She was praised for her bravery and it was seen by some as an indication that the group had changed their attitude towards women. However, she stated that she has since fled Afghanistan because she is afraid of the Taliban.
Arghand stated to Reuters that the official showed up at the studio despite having no invitation and asked for an interview.
"I was shocked. I lost control. "I was shocked, I lost my control," I thought to myself.
Arghand stated that she altered the headscarf she was wearing to make it look more traditional and that she was happy she was wearing conservative clothing.
She said, "[Luckily] I always wear longer clothes in the studio because there are different people with different heads."
She stated that the Taliban had told TOLO News a week before her interview to require all female staff to wear a hijab and suspended other female anchors from other TV stations.
She also said that the Taliban had instructed local news outlets to not report on the Taliban's takingover of the country or their activities in power.
Continue the story
Arghand fled to Doha in Qatar. She claimed that Nobel Prize-winner Malala Yousafzai, whom she had previously interviewed, was able to assist her in leaving the country on August 24, 2012. After advocating for girls’ education, Yousafzai was gunned down by the Pakistani Taliban on 2012
Although the Taliban claim to be committed to women's right, they have restricted women's movements and rights during their last power and imposed harsh punishments including death.
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