Afghan Male TV Anchors Cover Faces In Support Of Female Colleagues Following The Taliban Order

The male tv anchors of Afghanistan are now covering their faces by wearing masks in support of their female colleagues. The male tv anchors made this move after the Taliban ordered all women working on news channels to cover their faces. This protest is named #FreeHerFace on social media.

In the recent pictures that have been circulating online, the men on the TOLO News channel posed with their female colleagues, wearing masks. This movement by the male TV anchors intends to mimic the effect of face masks worn by their female colleagues by force.

Image Courtesy: EPA

As reported earlier, many female news anchors had reportedly refused the Taliban's order to conceal their appearance on TV. But they finally had to give in, as their employers were under pressure. The women from TOLO news, Ariana Television, Shamshad TV and 1TV, and other popular channels have been wearing hijabs and face-covering veils while presenting news bulletins and other programs.

"Two Taliban members came to our office and said the decision on compulsory masks for female anchors must be implemented. We had an office meeting and had to accept the Taliban order, but decided that male colleagues should also wear masks and stand by female colleagues," told Lema Spesali, who is a news anchor for 1TV in Kabul, to the Guardian. According to Lema, she was given the news of the Taliban's latest decree on arrival at work on Sunday morning.