A former service member working with the translator confirmed his service and his brother’s situation.
“You have been accused of helping the Americans,” the Taliban wrote in the first of three letters to the Afghan man, adding, “They also accuse you of providing security to your brother, who has been an interpreter. “.
The first letter from the Taliban, which is handwritten, orders the man to appear in audience.
The second handwritten letter is a warning of his failure to appear at the hearing.
In the third letter, which is typed, the Taliban notify the man that because he rejected previous warnings to stop “his servitude to invading crusaders” and ignored a subpoena to appear in court, he was “guilty in absentia.” and shall be condemned to death.
The Taliban handed over the letters in the past three months to the interpreter’s brother, according to the former service member who worked with the interpreter.
CNN does not identify the Afghan man or his family member to protect their identities amid the threats they face. The letters, which were written in Pashto and translated into English by CNN, have stamps that match those of the Taliban archival letters.
“These court decisions are final and you will not have the right to object,” the third letter says. “You have chosen this path for yourself and your death is eminent [sic], If god wants.”
The letters contradict the guarantees that Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid made at a press conference last week as the group tries to project a more moderate image in the world.
“No one will be hurt in Afghanistan,” Mujahid said. “Of course, there’s a big difference between us now and 20 years ago.”
U.S. allies in Afghanistan doubt it, and these letters and numerous reports from the Taliban seeking retribution explain why many Afghans fear the return of the Taliban to implement their brutal and oppressive government.
The Biden administration has been under intense pressure to evacuate not only special visa applicants for Afghan immigrants, but other vulnerable Afghans who fear for their lives. The administration has been working to handle the huge massage of people trying to flee the country on Kabul evacuation flights, as chaotic scenes have been depicted for days outside Hamid Karzai International Airport.
CNN’s Jennifer Hansler contributed to this report.