Afghans that they would respect freedom of expression. However, subsequent incidents where journalists have been beaten, obstructed from carrying out their duties, and their homes searched, show a very different ground reality. Two women journalists that Amnesty International spoke to, shared the threats and intimidation they faced in Kabul after the Taliban took over. Ayesha, a woman journalist, had to leave Kabul when she was informed by the organization she worked for, that her life was at risk.119 In the first few days, women journalists had been asked by their employers not to come in to work, due to fear of a crackdown by the Taliban. However, thereafter, Ayesha and her female colleagues had returned to their offices and conducted interviews with some Taliban fighters. Ayesha described that when she was interviewing a Taliban fighter at a government Ministry building, he had refused to look at her, although she was wearing hijab and a head scarf. “I had the clothes, Hijab and head scarf according to Islam, but still he was not looking at me. Instead, he had looked at the cameraman”, she said. Ayesha’s organization had later informed all the female employees that if they wanted to continue working, they would have to dress according to Taliban requirements. She described further how people continued to contact her and tell her how the Taliban were searching homes, confiscating vehicles and property, and beating people; but they were afraid to come on record because the Taliban had threatened to kill them.120 She described how journalists who had been arrested and detained by the Taliban while covering protests, were beaten brutally, so much so that they were unable to walk.121 After Ayesha left Afghanistan, the Taliban visited her family and threatened and harassed a relative, when they could not find her.122 Aadila, another woman journalist and human rights defender, described the first two weeks of Taliban rule as a time of fear and uncertainty. She had decided to stay in Afghanistan and continue her work, until one night when the Taliban came to her home and hammered on the door asking for her. Aadila said they did not open the door out of fear, following which, upon the insistence of relatives, she left the country on 29 August.123 According to the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), two female journalists at Radio Television Afghanistan were taken off air by the Taliban and banned from entering their offices, shortly after the fall of Kabul.124 CPJ, advised the journalists to stay at home for a few days, until the group informed them on when they could return.125 Abdul, a male journalist, said that every editor, journalist, and media worker in Aghanistan had received instructions from the Taliban that they could work only under Sharia law, and Islamic rules and regulations. 126 “I have not reported to my job since the fall of the republic. Taliban came to my house several times, but I hid myself. From the time of the collapse, our office is closed,” he said. 127 Abdul shared that he had been on the Taliban’s “terror list” [hit list] for several years; a list they use to target journalists and others. 128 Abdul, who managed to leave Afghanistan, said that many journalists 119 Interview with Ayesha. Phone conversation. 8 September 2021. Amnesty International. 120 Interview with Ayesha. Phone conversation. 8 September 2021. Amnesty International. 121 Interview with Ayesha. Phone conversation. 8 September 2021. Amnesty International. 122 Interview with Ayesha. Phone conversation. 8 September 2021. Amnesty International. 123 Interview with Aadila. Phone conversation. 9 September 2021. Amnesty International. Tolo News, Afghan Female Journalists Ask Taliban for Right to Work, 19 August 2021, https://tolonews.com/afghanistan/attack-mediajournalists174315. 124 Committee to Protect Journalists. 19 August 2021. “Taliban take 2 female state TV anchors off-air in Afghanistan, beat at least 2 journalists”. https://cpj.org/2021/08/taliban-take-2-female-state-tv-anchors-off-air-in-afghanistan-beat-at-least-2-journalists/. 125 126 Abdul. Interview responses sent via email. 8 September 2021. Amnesty International. 127 Abdul. Interview response sent via email. 8 September 2021. Amnesty International. 128 Abdul. Interview responses sent via email. 8 September 2021. Amnesty International. THE FATE OF THOUSANDS HANGING IN THE BALANCE: AFGHANISTAN’S FALL INTO THE HANDS OF THE TALIBAN Amnesty International 16