started. Freedom of expression is protected by Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights which Afghanistan is party to.150 It is also protected by Article 34 of the Constitution of Afghanistan. 6.1 REPRISALS AGAINST FORMER GOVERNMENT WORKERS AND CIVILIANS A popular comedian Nazar Mohammed, who had formerly worked for the police force, was abducted from his home and killed by the Taliban on or about 28 July 2021.151 A video has emerged of Mohammed, seated between two Taliban fighters in the back of car, where he is slapped by the fighters and appears dazed.152 Folk singer Fawad Andarabi was killed in the last week of August by the Taliban, who dragged him out of his home in Kishnabad village of Andarab and shot him in the head.153 In an attack on 4 September, the Taliban were accused of killing Banu Negar, a former woman police officer, in front of her children. She was eight months pregnant at the time. She had worked for the police force in Ghor for 15 years. The incident took place in the night, at 10 PM local time, in her home.154 Civilians have also borne the brunt of Taliban violence. 10 people died on 29 August 2021, after a US drone strike hit the car of a civilian.155 Seven out of the 10 people killed were children.156 The United States initially claimed that the car was laden with explosives which they claimed belonged to the Islamic State - Khoresan Province (ISKP).157 A report by the New York Times on 10 September revealed that the car had no explosives, but only water containers for the family of the man who was targeted.158 Heart-breaking images of the children and adults who died in this attack, were shared by a reporter.159 Evidence established by the New York Times suggests that the children got into the car of the NGO worker as he backed into the driveway just before the drone attack targeted the vehicle.160 On 17 September the US took responsibility for the killings.161 With ongoing fighting between the Taliban and armed resistance fighters in Panjshir, reports have emerged that as of 24 August, food, fuel, and essential supplies were not being allowed into the Article 19, International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. Adopted and opened for signature, ratification and accession by General Assembly resolution 2200A (XXI) of 16 December 1966 entry into force 23 March 1976, in accordance with Article 49. https://www.ohchr.org/en/professionalinterest/pages/ccpr.aspx 150 Alex Horton and Ezzatullah Mehrdad. The Washington Post. 28 July 2021. “After ‘comedian’ is killed by Taliban, videos of his treatment spark outrage across Afghanistan”. https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2021/07/28/nazar-khasha-afghanistan-comedian/. ANI. “Popular Afghan comedian killed by gunmen, family blames Taliban”. https://www.aninews.in/news/world/asia/popular-afghan-comedian-killed-by-gunmen-family-blamestaliban20210723165601/https://www.aninews.in/news/world/asia/popular-afghan-comedian-killed-by-gunmen-family-blames-taliban20210723165601/ 151 152 Tweet. Bilal Sarwary. @bsarwary. 27 July 2021. 3:04 PM. https://twitter.com/bsarwary/status/1419954440421916682?lang=en. Gandhara. “Taliban Accused Of Slaying Afghan Folk Singer”. 29 August 2021. https://gandhara.rferl.org/a/taliban-afghan-folk-singerkilling/31433717.html. Tweet. Sami Mahdi. @Samiullah_mahdi. 30 August 2021. 9 :30 PM. https://twitter.com/Samiullah_mahdi/status/1431647857883459594. The Times of India. 29 August 2021. “Folk singer Fawad Andarabi killed by Taliban fighters in Afghanistan”. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/videos/international/folk-singer-fawad-andarabi-killed-by-taliban-fighters-inafghanistan/videoshow/85731070.cms. Tweet. The Associated Press. @AP. 29 August 2021. 4:26 PM. https://twitter.com/AP/status/1431933704239210499. 153 Information obtained in writing from human rights defenders based in Afghanistan. Private communication. 8 September 2021. BBC. 5 September 2021. “Afghanistan: Taliban accused of killing pregnant police officer”. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-58455826. 154 BBC. 30 August 2021. “Afghanistan: US investigates civilian deaths in Kabul strike”. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-58380791. The Hindu. 30 August 2021. “U.S. probing if civilians were killed in strike”. https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/us-probing-if-civilians-were-killed-instrike/article36191336.ece. 155 The New York Times. 10 September 2021. “Times Investigation: In U.S. Drone Strike, Evidence Suggests No ISIS Bomb”. https://www.nytimes.com/2021/09/10/world/asia/us-air-strike-drone-kabul-afghanistan-isis.html. 156 157 BBC. 30 August 2021. “Afghanistan: US drone strike 'eliminates airport bomb threat'”. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-58372458. 158 BBC. 30 August 2021. “Afghanistan: US drone strike 'eliminates airport bomb threat'”. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-58372458. 159 Tweet. Mathieu Aikins. @mattaikins. 10 September 2021. https://twitter.com/mattaikins/status/1436742075354075139. The New York Times. 10 September 2021. “Times Investigation: In U.S. Drone Strike, Evidence Suggests No ISIS Bomb”. https://www.nytimes.com/2021/09/10/world/asia/us-air-strike-drone-kabul-afghanistan-isis.html. 160 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. 161 THE FATE OF THOUSANDS HANGING IN THE BALANCE: AFGHANISTAN’S FALL INTO THE HANDS OF THE TALIBAN Amnesty International 19