Since their takeover on 15 August, the Taliban promised in several press conferences and statements that they assure a general amnesty for all previous government workers,4 respect women’s rights in accordance with their interpretation of Sharia law,5 and that journalists would be protected.6 In a sign of things to come, bright murals in the capital Kabul were painted over with black and white slogans by the Taliban in the weeks following the takeover.7 A Taliban commander attended a news conference with TOLO news, conducted by a female anchor, to demonstrate their promises and commitments – days later, the anchor herself fled Afghanistan fearing for her life.8 Although the Taliban had assured a general amnesty for all previous government workers, there was no formal decree to this effect- and to protect the rights of journalists.9 Contrary to this reassurance, the Taliban continued to crackdown on journalists and tortured them for reporting about protests in the country.10 Female protestors took to the streets demanding equality and freedom in Nimroz,11 Kabul12, Herat,13 Mazar-e-Sharif14 and other cities and provinces in Afghanistan- despite violent crackdowns on protestors on 2 and 6 September in Mazar-e-Sharif. Reporters were threatened by the Taliban to not report the protest in Mazar-e-Sharif.15 For civilians, their fate hangs in the balance, as several blasts in Kabul since 15 August claimed hundreds of lives. On 26 August, a suicide bombing by the Islamic State - Khoresan Province (ISKP) outside the Baron Hotel, in close proximity to the Abbey Gate and also at the Abbey Gate of the Hamid Karzai International Airport (HKIA), claimed 170 lives, including 13 US soldiers, and injured many others.16 On 29 August, a Hellfire missile, launched by the United States military from a Reaper drone, killed 10 people, including seven children, in Kabul.17 Thus far, the United States has failed to properly investigate the strike, speak to the families of the victims, or pay compensation. On 17 September, General Frank McKenzie, the head of the US Central Command, accepted responsibility for the killings which they called a “tragic mistake”.18 Following the Taliban announcement on 3 September that it had seized control of Panjshir, where an armed group had been resisting the Taliban rule, celebratory gun fire killed at least 17 people and injured 41 others in Kabul.19 Zaheena Rasheed, Arwa Ibrahim and Usaid Siddiqui. Al Jazeera. 17 August 2021. “Taliban offers amnesty, promises women’s rights and media freedom”. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/8/17/evacuation-flights-resume-as-biden-defends-afghanistan-pullout. 4 Tracy Shelton. ABC. 19 August 2021. “The Taliban say they will preserve women's rights under sharia law. But what does that mean?”. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-08-19/womens-rights-and-sharia-law-under-the-taliban/100386350. 5 6 BBC. 17 August 2021. “Afghan women to have rights within Islamic law, Taliban say”. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-58249952. 7 Tweet. Secunder Kermani. @SecKermani. 3 September 2021. 11:47 PM. https://twitter.com/SecKermani/status/1433856716186206211. The Guardian. 2 September 2021. “Female TV anchor who interviewed Taliban flees Afghanistan”. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/sep/02/female-tv-anchor-who-interviewed-taliban-official-ends-up-having-to-flee-afghanistan. 8 Yogita Limaye. BBC. 1 September 2021. “Amid violent reprisals, Afghans fear the Taliban's 'amnesty' was empty”. https://www.bbc.com/news/worldasia-58395954. The Wire. 28 August 2021. “What Happened to the Taliban's Promise to Protect Journalists?”. https://thewire.in/media/what-happenedto-the-talibans-promise-to-protect-journalists. 9 Reuters. 9 September 2021. “Afghan journalists beaten in Taliban detention, editor says”. https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/afghanjournalists-beaten-taliban-detention-editor-says-2021-09-09/. 10 Tweet. From the Afghan Women. Handle: @HearAfghanWomen. 4 September 2021. 7:34 PM. https://twitter.com/HearAfghanWomen/status/1434155448236756994. 11 12 Tweet. Zahra Rahimi. @ZahraSRahimi. 7 September 2021. 3:47 PM. https://twitter.com/ZahraSRahimi/status/1435185420808163333. Al Jazeera English, Herat women protest against Taliban over right to work, 2 September 2021, https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/9/2/women-inherat-protest-outside-governorsError! Hyperlink reference not valid. 13 14 Farzana Adell. Handle: @far_adell. 6 September 2021. 2:18 PM. https://twitter.com/far_adell/status/1434800726212071428. 15 Tweet. Farzana Adell. @far_adell. 6 September 2021. 2:18 PM. https://twitter.com/far_adell/status/1434800726212071428. 16 BBC. 30 August 2021. “Afghanistan: US drone strike 'eliminates airport bomb threat'”. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-58372458. Washington Post, 10 September 2021. “Examining a ”righteous” strike.” https://www.washingtonpost.com/investigations/interactive/2021/kabul-dronestrike-questions/?_=a. 17 The New York Times. 17 September 2021. “Pentagon acknowledges Aug. 29 drone strike in Afghanistan was a tragic mistake that killed 10 civilians”. https://www.nytimes.com/2021/09/17/us/politics/pentagon-drone-strike-afghanistan.html. Al Jazeera. 17 September 2021.” Drone attack killed 10 civilians in Kabul, US acknowledges”. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/9/17/drone-strike-killed-10-civilians-in-kabul-us-acknowledges. 18 Reuters. 4 September 2021. “At least 17 killed in celebratory gunfire in Kabul – reports”. https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/least-17-killedcelebratory-gunfire-kabul-reports-2021-09-04/. The Times of India. 3 September 2021. “17 dead, 41 injured in citywide open-air firing in Kabul: Reports”. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/south-asia/afghanistan-crisis-17-dead-41-injured-in-citywide-open-air-firing-inkabul/articleshow/85920629.cms. 19 THE FATE OF THOUSANDS HANGING IN THE BALANCE: AFGHANISTAN’S FALL INTO THE HANDS OF THE TALIBAN Amnesty International 3