The Italian NGO COSPE has called for the evacuation of an Afghan activist who witnessed raids carried out by the Taliban in the northern Afghan province of Takhar a few weeks ago. According to COSPE, the activist then fled to Kabul.

The woman reportedly told COSPE that fighters systematically sought out girl children in their homes to be married off, and very young girls of around seven or eight years old were raped and possibly even killed.

Activist in danger

"Our activist is now in hiding... and we ask that she be taken away," said aid worker Silvia Ricchieri, who works with the NGO. "She told us a few days ago that, during the very rapid advance into her province, the Taliban kidnapped young girls from their homes, beating and perhaps even killing family members who tried to stop them. There was no time to get the young girls to safety, since it was so quick, according to her messages. She fled towards the capital (Kabul) in the hope of leaving the country. We think she is in hiding somewhere. We consider her life to be in grave danger."

The human rights organization worked in Afghanistan until 2018. Its work there included women's right projects, such as legal and psychological aid in Kabul and Herat for women survivors of domestic violence. The organization said that its Italian aid workers were worried for the safety of their former colleagues in Afghanistan.

Traces of Herat female footballers also lost

COSPE also said that it had received reports that six female footballers from the Herat team have disappeared. "Fifteen female Afghan footballers from the Herat team, champions of Afghanistan, fled to Iran, but it is unclear what happened to the other six," said the NGO, which had cooperated with the football team on projects.

"As soon as the rapid advance of the Taliban was clear, many fled and it seems that they managed to get into Iran," Ricchieri said. "They are young and single and thus for them the risk of violence and retaliation from the Taliban is very high. Unfortunately we do not know what happened to the six players or even their coach. We are very worried."