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Throughout her career as a judge, Masooma has convicted hundreds of men for violence against women, including murder, rape and torture.
But a few days after the Taliban returned to the city where the judge worked, the criminals were released from prison.
And then the death threats began. Masooma says his phone started being bombarded with anonymous SMS messages and audio messages.
“It was midnight when we found out that the Taliban had released all the prisoners. We immediately decided to flee. We left our house and all things,” the judge recalled.
Promised revenge
Over the past 20 years, since the start of the US military campaign in 2001, 270 women have served as judges in Afghanistan. They had great influence in the country and were famous public figures. Everything has changed this summer.
AFP / “Scanpix” nuotr./Gyvenimas Kabule, Afghanistan
“As the car was leaving the city, I put a bottle so that no one would recognize me. “It’s good that we were lucky enough to pass all the Taliban checks,” Masooma said.
Shortly after her departure, the judge’s neighbors informed her that several Taliban had arrived at her home. When asked to describe the uninvited guests, Masooma soon realized what he was looking for and why.
Masooma: The crime was brutal. When I closed the case, the criminal approached me and said that when I was released, he would treat me the same way I treated my wife.
A few months before the return of the Taliban, Masooma was looting a case in which a Taliban fighter was charged with the brutal murder of his wife. The suspect was found guilty and sentenced to 20 years in prison; the verdict was accepted by Masooma.
“I still see the body of that young woman in front of his eyes. The crime was brutal. When I closed the case, the criminal approached me and said that when I was released, he would treat me the same way I treated my wife.
So I didn’t think he was serious. But since the Taliban came to power, he has called me many times and told me that he has all the information on me. He told me again that he would find me and take revenge on me, ”said the judge.
The Taliban deny the problem
A BBC investigation found that at least 220 former judges are currently in hiding in Afghanistan. All the judges with whom this British announcer interacted gave similar anecdotes, although they live in different provinces of the country.
Reuters / Scanpix Photo / Funeral of the murdered judge in Kabul
All of them received death threats from members of the Taliban that they had previously sent behind bars. Four judges named specific men who were jailed after killing their people.
Furthermore, all former judges have had to change their phone number at least once and all essentially live on the road: they have to change their place of residence every few days. The Taliban continue to visit homes where women used to live.
It is true that the Taliban spokesman, Bilal Karimi, denied the accusations: “Women judges must live without fear, like all other families. No one should threaten them. Our special forces are committed to investigating all complaints and taking action if violations are identified. “
All the former judges have had to change their phone number at least once and they all basically live on the road, they have to change their place of residence every few days.
Karimi also reiterated the Taliban’s promise of a “joint amnesty” for all former government officials: “Our promise is sincere. But if anyone wants to leave the country, we ask that we not do so and stay in Afghanistan.”
Zuma Press “/” Scanpix “nuotr./Talibanas
A spokesman for the movement finally recalled that the mass release of prisoners had resulted in the release of many non-Taliban criminals.
Karimi said: “As for the drug traffickers and members of the mafia, our intention is to destroy them. Our actions will be serious. “
Calls and threats
High-ranking and educated female judges supported their families until the return of the Taliban. But now that salaries are no longer being paid and bank accounts are frozen, these professionals have to seek the help of family members.
Judge Sanna has been investigating violent crimes against women and children for more than three decades. Now he recalls that members of the Taliban and the Islamic State were often sent to prison.
Imago / Scanpix Photo / Women judges harassed in Afghanistan before the return of the Taliban
“And right now, I am counting more than 20 calls with threats that I have received from released prisoners,” says the woman, who is hiding with more than a dozen relatives.
A relative of Saana once dared to return to the family home, but it was then that the Taliban soldiers showed up.
The man said: “I opened the door and wondered if the judge’s house was here. When I said I didn’t know where I was, they threw me down the stairs and beat me. My nose and mouth were filled with blood.
I went to the hospital and then told another relative that our sister has to change her place of residence all the time, there is no other way. We cannot escape to any other country, not even Pakistan. “
Ask for help to get the judges to leave
Afghanistan has been one of the poorest countries in the world for many decades. It is not very easy for women here; according to Human Rights Watch, 87 percent. the country’s women and girls are being oppressed.
However, the community of women judges that has developed in recent years has also helped to mature the idea that violence against women and girls is a crime that should be punished.
All six judges interviewed by the BBC acknowledged that harassment and persecution had taken place before, even before the Taliban regained control of Afghanistan two decades later.
“I wanted to serve my country, so I became a judge,” Asma emphasized. – In the Family Court, I worked mainly with women who wanted to break with the Taliban fighters. Working was dangerous for us; once the Taliban even fired rockets at the courthouse. “
More than 100,000 people have left Afghanistan or have been evacuated in recent years. people. Six judges are also seeking an exit from the country.
“We also lost one of our best friends and judges. He disappeared on his way from home to work, his body was found later and no one was convicted of the murder, “added the former judge, who is now in hiding.
It is not yet clear exactly how the Taliban will treat Afghan women, but the signs are bad. Only men work in the government and women cannot enter schools either.
More than 100,000 people have left Afghanistan or have been evacuated in recent years. people. Six judges are also seeking an exit from the country, but the task is difficult: there are no money and no documents. Former judge Marzia Babakarkhail, who now lives in the UK, is trying to help.
“There is still access to the media and the Internet in Kabul, where the judges still have influence. But in the rural provinces they have nothing.” Many of these judges do not have passports or proper permits, but they cannot be forgotten because of the danger it’s very real, “Babakarkhail said.
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