Afghan journalist Musa Mohammadi was spotted selling street food in order to make ends meet. After the Taliban takeover, the country has experienced economic turbulence, forcing professionals like Mohammadi into a state of poverty.
Kabir Haqmal, lecturer at Kabul University and former journalist, shared Mohammadi’s picture on Twitter with the caption, “Mohammadi worked for years as an anchor and reporter on different TV channels. He now has no income to feed his family and sells street food to earn some money.”
Journalists life in #Afghanistan under the #Taliban. Musa Mohammadi worked for years as anchor & reporter in different TV channels, now has no income to fed his family. & sells street food to earn some money. #Afghans suffer unprecedented poverty after the fall of republic. pic.twitter.com/nCTTIbfZN3
— Kabir Haqmal (@Haqmal) June 15, 2022
In another tweet, Haqmal added, “It is also important to look at how the well-to-do people in a country have reached this stage, and what will happen to the poor. We don’t know what to call the change.“
۲/۲… خو دې ته هم کتل په کار دي، چې په یوهٔ ملک کې د ښه عاید لرونکي خلک دې حالت ته ورسېدل، د بې وزلو به څه حال وي. نه پوهېږو راغلي بدلون ته څه نوم ورکړو. د پاکستان په فرمایش د اسلامي نظام واکمني او که د لوی الله قهر او زموږ د نا شکرانګیو عذاب؟ موږ ته خو یې دا دوېم نوم سم برېښي.
— Kabir Haqmal (@Haqmal) June 15, 2022
The viral post drew the attention of Ahmadullah Wasiq, Director of the National Radio and Television, who ensured Mohammadi’s employment in his response.
Wasiq’s responded: “Unemployment of Musa Mohammadi, a spokesman for a private television station, was highlighted on social media. 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.”
په ټولنیزو رسنیو کې د یوه خصوصي ټلویزیون د ویاند موسی محمدي د بې روزګارۍ انځور ښکته پورته کېږي
— Ahmadullah wasiq (@WasiqAhmadullah) June 15, 2022
چې څومره به رښتیا وي، که واقعيت وي د ملي راډیو ټلوېزیون د رئیس په ټوګه نوموړي ته ډاډ ورکوم چې دملي راډیو ټلويزیون په چوکاټ کې به یې مقرر کړو
موږ ټولو افغان مسلکي کادرونو ته اړتیا لرو pic.twitter.com/w3F2HrVQ1R
Like Mohammadi, Afghan journalists have been facing never-ending challenges since the Taliban’s takeover. Last month, Afghan female TV presenters were forced to cover their faces while appearing on air.
This ruling was widely criticised by many, calling it another step by the Taliban to promote extremism.