Zahra Joya and Rukshana Media’s Fight for Afghan Women’s Rights

In this episode, Kate de Pury speaks with Zahra Joya, the founder and editor-in-chief of Rukhshana Media, an independent Afghan news website that focuses on women and girls' rights in Afghanistan. Zahra tells her story and challenges of establishing an independent media outlet in the current context, the impact of the Taliban takeover, and how her team continues to report despite the restrictive regime. 

Zahra Joya is an Afghan journalist who left her country after receiving death threats for her work. She is now based in London, where she continues to advocate for press freedom and women’s rights in her homeland.

Zahra was named as one of Time’s women of the year 2022 for her reporting on women’s lives in Afghanistan through her news agency and received the 2022 Change maker Award from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. She was recognized as one of the BBC 100 Women in December 202 and received the Courage in Journalism Award and the International Press Freedom Award for her excellent reporting.

Here’s what you’ll hear in this episode:

1. An introduction and welcome to Zahra Joya and a summary of her background as an Afghan journalist [0:02:00]
2. Zahra Joya’s stories from Afghanistan on the treatment of women and her efforts to report their stories [0:07:00]
3. How Rukhshana Media, an independent media outlet, operates under the Taliban regime [0:11:00]
4. A view of the risks and challenges faced by journalists in Afghanistan [0:16:45]
5. The diverse stories and achievements of Afghan women [0:28:00]
6. Zahra discusses the future – her hopes and vision for the next generation of women in Afghanistan [0:42:00]
   7. Zahra’s thanks and shared hopes for the future [0:46:30]
   
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   Producer: Laurent Frat Music: Mickey Curling Sound: Martin Lonicer