journalist, and because of his ethnic and religious identity as a Shia-Hazara. 99 He said he was under scrutiny by the Taliban on social media- “I was personally bullied and trolled by the Taliban sympathizers on social media until I had to resort to self-censoring and deleted some of my twitter posts. Also, several friends who were journalists and activists were savagely beaten by the Taliban.”100 He said that if he had not left Afghanistan, he would have undoubtedly faced their retribution. He added that, “journalists, activists and anti-Taliban intellectuals, writers/artists, female journalists, former police, army, and intelligence officers, as well as female athletes, judges, advocates and singers are all at immediate risk”.101 Nazir also described how a friend, Parwiz, who was a male Afghan intellectual and academic, was arrested and beaten by the Taliban when participating in a protest. “Parwiz was detained during the women’s protests on September 8 [location withheld]. He was severely tortured. He had his arm broken by the group fighters [Taliban]. He was taken inside the Police district [district number withheld]. When Taliban released him, they made him wear new clothes because his clothes had become wet from his blood. It happened as part of the groups suppression policy to silence any opposition voice and those who question them”.102 Nazir had faced threats from the Taliban for his work, even before 15 August. He had already changed his work routines and was living partially underground because of threats by the Taliban. Nazir’s colleagues had received messages asking the organization to register with the Taliban. “One of our local coordinators in one district [name withheld] had to cancel an event because of Taliban threatening him that they ‘will kill him and his sister’ if they were not going to cancel their event. They cancelled the event late evening before the day it was scheduled for,” he said.103 Nazir added that many of his friends who were women human rights defenders had left the country, but many also remained in Kabul, some of whom were participating in the protests. He said others had gone underground, fearing for their lives. Hundreds of defenders who tried to access Kabul airport during the evacuation period faced huge obstacles, like a woman human rights defender who was on an evacuation list from a European country but was not allowed to enter the airport because of lack of coordination between the forces on the ground. Instead, she got injured while waiting at the entry gate, and ended up at the hospital.104 Another human rights defender echoed the distress: “We couldn't make it to the airport. I was beaten up several times on the way. My son disappeared in the crowd (he was found later with an injured leg) and my wife had a heart attack. It was the worst day of my life."105 Further, many human rights defenders who managed to leave the country are now stranded in military camps or in neighbouring countries, without knowing their final destination or how they will be able to rebuild their lives that have been shattered overnight. The right to freedom of association and peaceful assembly has also been seriously curtailed. Several NGO offices were raided and searched by the Taliban, and their accounts frozen, pending “future assessment” by the Taliban.106 NGOs have also stopped their women’s rights programmes, with most of the offices remaining closed due to fear of reprisals. 107 This puts human rights defenders in a dire financial situation, with many not having received a salary since July, with little prospect of receiving 99 Nazir. Interview response sent via email. 9 September 2021. Amnesty International. 100 Nazir. Interview response sent via email. 9 September 2021. Amnesty International. 101 Nazir. Interview response sent via email. 9 September 2021. Amnesty International. 102 Nazir. Interview response sent via email. 9 September 2021. Amnesty International. 103 Nazir. Interview response sent via email. 9 September 2021. Amnesty International. 104 Confidential communication. 25 August 2021. World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT). 105 Confidential communication. 23 August 2021. World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT). 106 Confidential communication. Phone interview, 6 September 2021. World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT). 107 Confidential communication. Phone interview, 6 September 2021. World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT). THE FATE OF THOUSANDS HANGING IN THE BALANCE: AFGHANISTAN’S FALL INTO THE HANDS OF THE TALIBAN Amnesty International 14