Taliban takeover triggers unrelenting fear for former Afghan policewomen, says HRW
Since the emergence of the Taliban in Afghanistan, former policewomen have lived in constant fear and threat, according to a report released by a rights body on Thursday.
The 26-page report released by the U.S.-based Human Rights Watch with the title, “Double Betrayal: Abuses against Afghan Policewomen, Past and Present,’’ documents threats from Taliban authorities since the Islamist Taliban took over in August 2021.
Forced into hiding, many former policewomen live in constant fear of being identified and targeted. However, the report highlights that the dangers began even before the Taliban takeover.
“Afghan policewomen have been doubly betrayed, first by the former Afghan government, which allowed serious sexual abuse against them to continue unchecked. They have also been betrayed by countries that ignored that abuse and have been unwilling to resettle or grant asylum to women seeking protection,’’ said Fereshta Abbasi, Afghanistan researcher at HRW.
Under the Taliban, policewomen are only deployed in a few areas, such as at checkpoints or in women’s prisons, HRW said.
Despite being instrumental in promoting and financing their recruitment and training since 2002, Western countries have only accepted a minimal number of these women.