flooded news54 and social media, there have also been isolated reports of schools closing, particularly in rural areas.55 It should also be noted that in areas that were already under Taliban control prior to 15 August, many schools were either destroyed by the Taliban, or girls were prohibited from attending school past grade six.56 4.3 EXCLUSION OF WOMEN FROM POLITICS When asked if women (and ethnic minorities) would be included in the new Afghan government during an interview with BBC Pashto, the deputy head of the Taliban political office in Qatar stated that there “may not” be a woman in top posts of the “government”, including the “Cabinet”.57 This was proven a reality on 7 September, when the Taliban announced their “caretaker government”, without a single woman in a cabinet post. This is a regression from the previous cabinet and undermines women’s rights to political participation. The Women’s Affairs Ministry no longer exists in the “government” appointed by the Taliban, despite the important role it played in improving women’s rights in Afghanistan in previous years. The Ministry of Propagation of Virtue and Prevention of Vice has also been re-established, which is particularly worrying because of the role of this Ministry in curtailing the rights of women in the past.58 Representation of ethnic and religious minorities is also absent from all leadership positions that have been appointed, which is of grave concern given the past attacks targeting the rights of women and girls, and ethnic and religious minorities. 4.4 REPRISALS AGAINST WOMEN POLITICIANS AND CIVIL SERVANTS Women who were in government prior to the Taliban’s takeover have by and large fled the country; however, there have already been several instances of reprisals against their employees, colleagues, and family members who have stayed in Afghanistan.59 As mentioned previously, Zarifa Ghafari, the female mayor of Maidan Shar in Wardak Province, told the BBC, that the Taliban had confiscated her car and beat up her guards.60 There have also been reports of reprisals against, including executions, of women police officers. As mentioned previously, a former police officer Banu Negar was killed in Firozkoh, Ghor Province- her case is detailed below under reprisals against government workers.61 See France24, Afghan girls return to school in Herat after Taliban takeover, 18 August 2021, https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20210818afghan-girls-return-to-school-in-herat-after-taliban-takeover. 54 News18. 16 August 2021. “Photo of Afghan Children Showing Up to Closed School Shows Impending Doom:. https://www.news18.com/news/buzz/photo-of-afghan-children-showing-up-to-closed-school-shows-impending-doom-4091588.html/. The Economic Times. 17 August 2021. “Shops, markets, schools remain closed in Kabul amid chaos”. https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/international/worldnews/shops-markets-schools-remain-closed-in-kabul-amid-chaos/articleshow/85390636.cms. 55 Human Rights Watch, “I Won’t Be a Doctor, and One Day You’ll Be Sick”: Girls’ Access to Education in Afghanistan, 17 October 2017, https://www.hrw.org/report/2017/10/17/i-wont-be-doctor-and-one-day-youll-be-sick/girls-access-education-afghanistan. 56 BBC. 1 September 2021. “Afghanistan : Taliban asked if there will be a place for women in new government”. https://www.bbc.com/news/av/worldasia-58407424. 57 Foreign Policy. 9 September 2021. “In Afghanistan, It’s Back to the Future—of Taliban Tyranny”. https://foreignpolicy.com/2021/09/09/talibanafghanistan-government-future-tyranny/. France 24. 11 September 2021. "Sports ban, segregated education: Afghanistan women worried by first Taliban measures”. https://www.france24.com/en/asia-pacific/20210911-sports-ban-segregated-education-afghanistan-women-worried-by-first-taliban-measures. The Washington Post. 8 September 2021. “The Taliban is bringing back its feared ministry of ‘vice’ and ‘virtue’”. https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2021/09/08/afghan-vice-virtue-ministry/. 58 Information obtained in writing from human rights defenders based in Afghanistan. Private communication. 8 September 2021. Also see, Philip Oltermann. The Guardian. 20 August 2021. “Relative of Deutsche Welle journalist killed by Taliban”. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/aug/20/relative-deutsche-welle-journalist-killed-taliban-german-broadcaster-afghans-media. Hindustan Times. 20 August 2021. “Relative of DW journalist in Afghanistan killed by Taliban: broadcaster”. https://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/relative-of-dwjournalist-in-afghanistan-killed-by-taliban-broadcaster-101629441598419.html. 59 60 BBC. 31 August 2021. “Amid violent reprisals, Afghans fear the Taliban’s ‘amnesty’ was empty”. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-58395954. 61 BBC. 5 September 2021. “Afghanistan: Taliban accused of killing pregnant police officer”. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-58455826.amp. THE FATE OF THOUSANDS HANGING IN THE BALANCE: AFGHANISTAN’S FALL INTO THE HANDS OF THE TALIBAN Amnesty International 9