4. The Fate of Thousands Hanging in the Balance: Afghanistan’s Fall FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION into the Hands of the Taliban, (Index: ASA 11/4727/2021), 21 In April, the Special Anti-Corruption Structure September seized the database containing the personal 5. “Afghanistan: Taliban must allow girls to return to school data of 900,000 citizens (see above: Right to immediately – new testimony”, 13 October 6. “Afghanistan: Oxygen and vaccines urgently needed as Covid-19 privacy) from the news portal Lapsi.al, which had made it public. Concerns arose infections surge”, 11 June 7. “Afghanistan: Despicable killing of female polio vaccine workers regarding freedom of expression, protection of sources and intimidation of journalists. The must be investigated”, 30 March 8. Afghanistan: ICC Prosecutor’s Statement on Afghanistan Jeopardises European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) his Office’s Legitimacy and Future (Index: IOR 53/4842/2021), 5 issued an interim measure ordering the October authorities to cease seizing any data from the news portal. While filming a police operation in July, ALBANIA journalist Ergys Gjencaj was physically attacked by officers. He was detained and his Republic of Albania phone was confiscated. Head of state: Ilir Meta Head of government: Edi Rama CRUEL, INHUMAN OR DEGRADING TREATMENT In April, parliamentary elections confirmed In July, following the ECtHR decision on the third mandate for the ruling Socialist Strazimiri v. Albania, the High Court ordered Party. The right to privacy of around that Arben Strazimiri be moved from prison 900,000 citizens was violated. Violence facilities to a specialized medical institution, persisted against women, journalists and in order to end the inhuman and degrading LGBTI people. The absence of a specialized treatment he had suffered. medical institution made implementation of RIGHT TO HEALTH European Court of Human Rights and High Court rulings impossible. In August, the Ministry of Health ordered RIGHT TO PRIVACY compulsory Covid-19 vaccination for high- risk groups such as medical staff, teachers In early April an unlawful database holding and students. the personal data of some 900,000 citizens According to the Ombudsman, the number and used by the Socialist Party for electoral of people infected with Covid-19 far purposes was leaked days before the outnumbered the treatment packages for elections. A total of 162 citizens sued the which they could be reimbursed. Patients Socialist Party for violation of data protection diagnosed during March-November 2020, as law. In December, two other databases were well as those tested positive by private health leaked, causing public outrage. They held institutions, were not eligible to be personal data such as salaries, workplaces reimbursed for medication. and type of car owned for more than 600,000 taxpayers. LGBTI PEOPLE’S RIGHTS In July, the Constitutional Court nullified LGBTI people remained subject to certain provisions of the Law on the State discrimination and harassment. A Police which had allowed the police to transgender woman was beaten in the street. conduct mass surveillance of citizens without In June, the Civil Registry prohibited a prior court authorization. Those provisions lesbian couple from registering as parents. were found unconstitutional as they imposed VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN AND GIRLS illegal limitations on the right to privacy. Women candidates faced hate speech during the electoral campaign in March. Amnesty International Report 2021/22 68