Saad Mohseni’s Comments on ‘Normal’ Situation of Afghan Women Spark Outrage Amid Taliban Arrests
Saad Mohseni, owner of the MOBY Group media network, sparked widespread criticism with his remarks about the ‘normal’ situation of Afghanistan and women, coinciding with reports of dozens of women detained in Herat by the Taliban authorities. On Saturday (June 6), speaking at the Jaipur Literature Festival in London, Mohseni claimed that conditions in Afghanistan are normal and women can move freely in the city without covering their faces and can even drive.
In contrast, according to reports from several media outlets citing eyewitnesses, Taliban forces have arrested more than 40 women in Herat for not covering their faces. Among those detained was a female doctor reportedly taken from a hospital to prison for not wearing the burqa. Critics argue these events directly contradict the picture Mohseni painted of the status of women.
Mohseni also claimed in his remarks that his mother travels to Kabul and has personally seen girls attending school, describing the situation as ‘normal.’ He added that journalism in Afghanistan is not as difficult as in Gaza, and even White House journalists face humiliation. These statements come amid years of severe restrictions on media, especially female journalists, with several media employees arrested or dismissed, raising serious concerns about freedom of expression in the country.
Hamira Qadri, a writer and university professor who participated in the panel event, questioned why Mohseni was not seriously challenged for statements she believes are inconsistent with on-the-ground realities. She emphasized that as a media businessman, Mohseni is aware of the problems facing women but was not critically confronted during the session.
Maryam Sama, a former member of the Afghan parliament, called Mohseni a ‘lobbyist’ for the Taliban administration and said he has never supported freedom of expression or women’s rights. Leyla Mohammadi, a civil activist, also accused TOLO TV of straying from its original mission and becoming a tool for ‘normalizing fundamentalism.’
The protesting movement ‘Afghan Women’s Political Participation Network’ described Mohseni’s remarks as ‘whitewashing’ the situation in favor of the Taliban regime. It stressed that in a context where even women’s voices in public spaces are restricted under new regulations, portraying a narrative of ‘freedom of movement’ ignores the harsh realities faced by Afghan women.
Parwana Ibrahimkhil, a member of a women’s protest movement, highlighted the contradiction between the claim of freedom of dress in the city and strict dress restrictions on TOLO TV. She questioned why women face tougher restrictions under Mohseni’s media management if they can appear uncovered in public.
Khalid Qadri, a photographer from Herat, noting the arrest of a pregnant woman for ‘improper hijab,’ dismissed Mohseni’s remarks as disconnected from current realities. Mujib Mehrdad, a journalist, called for a stronger societal response to such statements, emphasizing that silence in the face of media and women’s repression is unacceptable.
Sima Noori, a diaspora community activist in Europe, described Mohseni’s comments as participation in censoring women’s voices and said whitewashing the Taliban on international platforms means ignoring Afghan women’s voices. Bismillah Taban, a former official in the previous Afghan government, labeled Mohseni’s statements as ‘contrary to objective reality’ and claimed it is not the first time Mohseni has positively portrayed Taliban actions.
So far, Saad Mohseni has not responded to the wave of criticism and accusations of whitewashing and lobbying for the Taliban. He previously emphasized engagement between the international community and the Taliban government—a position consistently criticized by some women’s rights activists and freedom of expression advocates.
