On May 22, female newscasters and other journalists appeared on Afghan television with their faces veiled per instruction from the de facto Taliban leadership of the nation.

At the beginning of the month, Taliban Supreme Leader Hibatullah Akhundzada issued a directive requiring women to cover themselves entirely in public, preferably with the traditional burqa.

The Ministry for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice issued the same directive for women who appeared on television on May 21.

However, women initially violated the rule by appearing on broadcast with their faces visible on May 21.

On May 22, however, only the eyes of female newscasters wearing full hijabs and face-covering veils could be seen on all prominent channels.

"We resisted and were against wearing masks," Sonia Niazi, a TOLOnews anchor, told AFP. However, TOLOnews exerted pressure, and we were compelled to wear it.

A ministry spokesperson stated that the government does not oppose female newscasters.

Since August of last year, when they seized control of Afghanistan, the unrecognized Taliban authorities have enacted various laws curtailing the rights of women and girls. They are prohibited from traveling without a male guardian and enrolling in secondary schools.