KABUL, AFGHANISTAN -- SEPTEMBER 8, 2021: Journalists from the Etilaatroz newspaper, Nemat Naqdi, 28, a video journalist, left and Taqi Daryabi, 22, video editor undress to show their wounds sustained after Taliban fighters tortured and beat them while in custody after they were arrested for reporting on a women’s rights protest in Kabul, Afghanistan, Wednesday, Sept. 8, 2021. Photo: © (MARCUS YAM / LOS ANGELES TIMES)- Getty Images. On 9 September, the Taliban asked telecom operators to shut down internet connectivity in several districts in Kabul, including areas like Dasht-e-Barchi where protests had taken place in the previous days.143 This comes in the wake of similar shutdowns in other provinces that Amnesty International had previously reported on.144 Videos also emerged on social media of intimidation of the press by Taliban fighters. During a live TV interview with Taliban officials, a TV anchor was surrounded by armed Taliban fighters, indicating the intimidating circumstances under which journalists continue to work in Afghanistan. 145 Several media reports and interviews by Amnesty International confirm that the Taliban are conducting house-to-house searches for journalists, particularly those working for western media outlets. Both Aadila and Ayesha who spoke to Amnesty International, described how the Taliban had come looking for them in their homes. Taliban members broke into the home and searched for a journalist working for the German media outlet Deutsche Welle (DW) on 20 August; but the journalist had already been evacuated to Germany.146 They then killed a member of his family and injured another.147 Freedom of expression has remained fragile in Afghanistan for decades. According to a survey conducted by Reporters Sans Frontiers, less than 100 of Afghanistan’s 700 journalists are currently working.148 Amnesty International has raised concerns for years on the attacks against journalists, which has impacted media freedom and freedom of expression in the country. 149 Taliban’s conduct since 15 August makes it clear that a fresh assault on journalists and freedom of expression has just Tweet. BILAL SARWARY. @bsarwary. 9 September 2021. 8:28 AM. https://twitter.com/bsarwary/status/1435799866156982286. Tweet. Hizbullah Khan. @HizbkKhan. 9 September 2021. 5:47 AM. https://twitter.com/HizbkKhan/status/1435759344067489800. India Today. 9 September 2021. “Taliban cut internet services in parts of Kabul following massive protests”. https://www.indiatoday.in/world/story/taliban-internet-services-kabul-massiveprotests-1850849-2021-09-09. 143 Amnesty International. 19 August 2021. https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2021/08/afghanistan-taliban-responsible-for-brutal-massacre-ofhazara-men-new-investigation/. 144 145 Tweet. Ziar Khan Yaad. @ziaryaad. 30 August 2021. 11:22 AM. https://twitter.com/ziaryaad/status/1432054905930387459. Information obtained in writing from human rights defenders based in Afghanistan. Private communication. 8 September 2021. Also see, Philip Oltermann. The Guardian. 20 August 2021. “Relative of Deutsche Welle journalist killed by Taliban”. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/aug/20/relative-deutsche-welle-journalist-killed-taliban-german-broadcaster-afghans-media. Hindustan Times. 20 August 2021. “Relative of DW journalist in Afghanistan killed by Taliban: broadcaster”. https://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/relative-of-dwjournalist-in-afghanistan-killed-by-taliban-broadcaster-101629441598419.html. 146 Information obtained in writing from human rights defenders based in Afghanistan. Private communication. 8 September 2021. Also see, Philip Oltermann. The Guardian. 20 August 2021. “Relative of Deutsche Welle journalist killed by Taliban”. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/aug/20/relative-deutsche-welle-journalist-killed-taliban-german-broadcaster-afghans-media. Hindustan Times. 20 August 2021. “Relative of DW journalist in Afghanistan killed by Taliban: broadcaster”. https://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/relative-of-dwjournalist-in-afghanistan-killed-by-taliban-broadcaster-101629441598419.html. 147 RSF. 31 August 2021. “Fewer than 100 of Kabul’s 700 women journalists still working”. https://rsf.org/en/news/fewer-100-kabuls-700-womenjournalists-still-working. 148 Amnesty International. 3 May 2021. “Afghanistan: Authorities must protect journalists and journalism amid spiralling violence”. https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/press-release/2021/05/afghanistan-authorities-must-protect-journalists-and-journalism-amid-spiralling-violence/. 149 THE FATE OF THOUSANDS HANGING IN THE BALANCE: AFGHANISTAN’S FALL INTO THE HANDS OF THE TALIBAN Amnesty International 18