With the Taliban coming back to power in Afghanistan, there were mass evacuations as people fled the contry fearing the uncertain future under the organistion’s draconian rule. Now, more than 220 female Afghan judges are in hiding, fearing for their lives as they are of the opinion that the Taliban will be looking for retribution, a BBC investigation found.

In a BBC interview, the judges, who are in hiding, spoke about how things are under the Taliban rule.

Judge Masooma (named changed), during her career, convicted hundreds of men for violent crimes against women, including rape, murder and torture. And days after the criminals were released from prison, the death threats began.

She was bombarded with text messages, voice notes and calls from unknown numbers.

“It was midnight when we heard the Taliban had freed all the prisoners from jail. Immediately we fled. We left our home and everything behind,” BBC quoted her as saying.

In the last 20 years, 270 women have sat as judges in Afghanistan. They are known public figures and are some of the most powerful and prominent women in the country.

“Travelling by car out of the city, I wore a burka, so no one would recognise me. Fortunately, we made it past all the Taliban checkpoints.”

After she crossed the checkpoints, she got informed that the Taliban arrived at her old house and were looking for her.

One of the criminals, who was convicted, had told her: “I will find you and have my revenge.”

Almost six former judges were spoken to and all their testimonies were similar.

All of them have received death threats from members of the Taliban who were convicted by them.

Replying to the claims, Taliban spokesperson Bilal Karimi told the BBC: “Female judges should live like any other family without fear. No-one should threaten them. Our special military units are obliged to investigate such complaints and act if there is a violation.”

With regards to the security of female judges, Karimi also said:

“In the case of drug traffickers, mafia members, our intention is to destroy them. Our action against them will be serious.”

What makes matters worse as the female judge’s bank accounts have been frozen and are currently living off hand-outs from their relatives.

As the Taliban motors forward, several countries said that they will be offering help. However, how and when help arrives for the judges, is yet to be ascertained.

“Sometimes I think, what is our crime? Being educated? Trying to help women and punish criminals? I love my country. But now I am a prisoner. We have no money. We cannot leave the house,” judge Massoma said.

“I can only pray for the day when we will be free again.”

As Afghanistan’s interim government is an all-male cabinet, the future is grim for women in the war-torn country.