7. OBSTACLES TO FLEEING THE COUNTRY Afghan people have been prevented from fleeing and seeking asylum abroad either because the Taliban prevented people from accessing Kabul airport, or because land borders have been closed. Some men and women have even been tortured or ill-treated when they attempted to leave the country.173 Four people interviewed by Amnesty International described how during the last two weeks of August, the Taliban, who manned checkpoints at the entrance of the airport, barred them or their friends from entering the facility, and beat people at the airport entrance or inside the airport. Habiba, who was on an evacuation list, told Amnesty International that on 17 August, Taliban beat people inside the airport after a looting took place. “The Taliban wanted everyone to leave the airport. We were waiting outside the waiting hall, near the runway. They [the Taliban] whipped me three times on my legs with a cable. There were thousands of people and I saw many people being beaten as they were trying to escape,” Habiba said.174 She recounted that two of her male friends were beaten separately and barred from entering the airport. She said when her friend Ahmad arrived at a checkpoint close to the airport and said that he wanted to enter, Taliban beat him and told him “Where are you escaping to?”. Similarly, she said when Shakeeb, another of Habiba‘s friends, came to the airport gate with travel documents, Taliban beat him heavily without looking at his documents. 7.1 DIFFICULT CONDITIONS IN ACCESSING THE AIRPORT Speaking to Amnesty International, Aadila described how, for five days, she repeatedly went to the Kabul airport, but could not gain entry.175 Even after she did gain entry, she described how she and her family were forced to throw away all their belongings, retaining only cash and jewellery.176 Ayesha, another journalist who managed to escape, recalled how Taliban had gotten into the vehicle that she and other journalists were transported in, and said, “If I have the power, I would not allow any of you to leave- I would kill you all”.177 She described how a sea of people, many without valid travel documents, were trying to enter the airport, consequently preventing those with valid documents from getting in. It is only after several days, and after following a complex pre-prepared evacuation plan, that Ayesha was able to gain entry into the airport.178 Abdul, another journalist who managed to leave Afghanistan, described his experience as a nightmare. “It was really difficult to enter into the airport, I together with my children and the children of another family made a circle and put the children and women inside the circle. We entered into the crowd at 11:00 PM and came out at 02:00 AM from other sides of the crowd without any shoes, and with bloody feet. We were warmly welcomed by the international military forces and flew following the ten hours wait at the airport. Entering into the airport was a nightmare and I will never forget it”. 179 Abdul had come to the airport three times and it is only on the third attempt that he was able to enter the airport. He was able to carry only a change of clothes, some cash, his passport, and mobile phone.180 Kobra, a woman human rights defender who fled Afghanistan on 19 August, along with her son and her pregnant daughter-in-law, said that she would never forget the scenes at the airport. 181 She 173 Phone interviews on 2 and 3 September 2021. Kabul. Amnesty International. 174 Phone interview. 3 September 2021. Kabul. Amnesty International. 175 176 Interview with Aadila. Phone conversation. 8 September 2021. Amnesty International. 177 Interview with Ayesha. Phone conversation. 8 September 2021. Amnesty International. 178 Interview with Ayesha. Phone conversation. 8 September 2021. Amnesty International. 179 Interview with Abdul. Interview response sent via email. 8 September 2021. Amnesty International. 180 Interview with Abdul. Interview response sent via email. 8 September 2021. Amnesty International. 181 Interview with Kobra. Interview response sent via email. 10 September 2021. Amnesty International. THE FATE OF THOUSANDS HANGING IN THE BALANCE: AFGHANISTAN’S FALL INTO THE HANDS OF THE TALIBAN Amnesty International 21