Afghanistan Female Judges Under Threat from Prisoners Freed by Taliban

While some of Afghanistan’s female judges have been able to evacuate in recent weeks, the majority have been left behind and are still attempting to flee, as reported by judges and activists who are working day-and-night to help them.

What is happening in Afghanistan?

Who released the prisoners?

What British justice minister said?

Sarah Kay’s take on the matter.

What is happening in Afghanistan?

The lives of Afghanistan’s 250 female judges are in jeopardy, with those they formerly imprisoned now hunting judges with the help of conquering Taliban.
While some of the Afghani female judges have been able to escape in recent weeks, the majority have been left behind and are still attempting to flee, according to judges and activists who are working tirelessly to rescue them.

When they previously ruled the country 20 years ago, the Taliban, who surged to power as the US withdrew its soldiers, barred women from most occupations. They have stated that women’s rights will be respected, but no details have been provided.

Women who work in the legal system have previously been targeted. In January, two female Supreme Court judges were shot.

Who released the prisoners and why are they targeting judges in Afghanistan?

The Taliban forces have released most of the prisoners all across region, putting “the lives of female judges in danger,” says a highly ranked Afghan woman judge who was able fled to Europe.

Inside the capital, released prisoners with Taliban’s forces are looking for female judges who, during the democratic government of Afghan, sentenced them to imprisonment. “Where is this woman judge? said Four or five Taliban men who came to my residence. These were people I had imprisoned” said a female judge, whom we cannot name, during an interview with Reuters.

Former officers and now afghani refugees in touch with family

These female judges have kept in touch with friends, family, and co-workers. “Their messages are filled with panic and fear. They tell me that until they are rescued, their lives are in grave danger,” said the rescued female judge in her interview.

According to Horia Mosadiq, an Afghan human rights activist, there are roughly a thousand additional women human rights activists who could be targeted by the Taliban, in addition to the judges.

“Freed inmates are calling women judges, prosecutors, and police officers with death threats, saying ‘we will come for you,'” she claimed.

Fearful situation in Afghanistan, says British justice minister

Last week, British Justice Minister Robert Buckland announced that London had evacuated nine female judges and was working to ensure the safety of other “extremely vulnerable persons.”

“Many of these judges have implemented the rule of law, and they are rightfully concerned about the ramifications that the Taliban’s ascent could bring,” he said.

Women judges and human rights defenders were not evacuated as a priority by Western countries in the chaos that followed Kabul’s fall, according to human rights and legal activists.

Governments had no interest in rescuing Afghans in danger

She’s collaborating with the “digital Dunkirk,” an online community of volunteer veterans named after the World War II evacuation of British troops from Nazi-occupied France. With the use of discussion groups and personal contacts, it has assisted hundreds of people in escaping.

A group of six international judges have been gathering information, pushing governments, and arranging rescue operations at the IAWJ.

“The burden that we face is nearly insufferable at the time as we are one of the only people accepting responsibility for this group,” Patricia Whalen, an American judge who assisted in the 10-year training of Afghan female judges, told Reuters.

“It has infuriated me. We should not be in this situation.”

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