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(CNN) -
The Taliban sentenced to death the brother of an Afghan translator, according to letters obtained by CNN, in which he is accused of having helped the United States and of having provided security to his brother, who was serving as an interpreter. to the American troops.
A former service member who worked with the translator confirmed his service and his brother's situation.
The letters are just one example of how the Taliban directly threaten Afghans who worked with the United States or are relatives of those who did, prompting them to find a way to flee the country after the Taliban seized power.
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"You have been accused of helping the Americans," the Taliban wrote in the first of three letters to the Afghan, adding:
"You are also accused of providing security for your brother, who was an interpreter."
The first letter from the Taliban, handwritten, orders the man to appear for an audience.
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The second letter, handwritten, is a notice that you did not show up for the hearing.
In the third typewritten letter, the Taliban notify the man that, for having rejected earlier warnings to leave "his bondage to the invaders" and for having ignored a summons to appear at a hearing, he is "guilty in absentia." and will be condemned to death.
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The Taliban delivered the letters in the past three months to the interpreter's brother, according to the former service member who worked with him.
CNN is not identifying the Afghan man, or his family member, to protect their identities amid the threats they face.
The letters, written in Pashto and translated into English for CNN, have stamps that match those of the Taliban's archival letters.
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"These court decisions are final and you will not have the right to object," says the third letter.
"You have chosen this path and your death is eminent [sic], God willing."
The letters contradict assurances that Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid offered at a press conference last week as the group tries to project a more moderate image to the world.
"No one will be harmed in Afghanistan," Mujahid said.
"Of course, there is a big difference between us now and 20 years ago."
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America's Afghan allies doubt this, and these letters and the numerous reports from the Taliban seeking retaliation explain why many Afghans fear that the Taliban will reimpose their brutal and oppressive regime.
Joe Biden's administration has come under intense pressure to evacuate not only applicants for special Afghan immigration visas, but also other vulnerable Afghans who fear for their lives.
The administration has been working to manage the massive influx of people trying to flee the country on evacuation flights from Kabul, as chaotic scenes have raged outside Hamid Karzai International Airport for days.
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