To  Ed Liebow, Executive Director of the American Anthropological Association

We, a community of concerned social scientists, including anthropologists and other academics from Afghanistan, in diaspora, register our strong protest and outrage on moral and ethical grounds against an upcoming talk "Afghanistan Then and Now: A Conversation with Former Afghan President Ashraf Ghani" that will be moderated by Gillian Tett of the Financial Times and hosted by the American Anthropological Association on 31 March 2022 at 2 PM EST.  

We express the feelings of a nation abandoned to a syndicate of internationally recognized terrorists as a result of Ashraf Ghani and his criminal team’s failed leadership and betrayal that led to the  subjugation of an entire nation to misery, poverty, starvation, humiliation, and oppression.

Since his disgraceful fleeing from the country paved the way for terrorists to return to power, the court of public opinion in Afghanistan has condemned him. He must take responsibility before he is provided a forum to rationalize his horrible deeds. People of Afghanistan want him tried in the International Court of Justice for crimes against the nation of Afghanistan and crimes against humanity.

On principle alone, as an alleged criminal, Ashraf Ghani is not fit to be honored to speak in such august academic environment as the American Anthropological Association, especially when an Afghanistan studies scholar is not included to respond to him. As a self-proclaimed anthropologist heading the government of Afghanistan to disaster, Ghani has dishonored the profession of anthropology and has given a bad name to anthropologists.  It’s a shame that many globally respected and renowned colleagues will be involved in commenting on Ghani’s pre-recorded talk.

Finally, we humbly request that our colleagues at the American Anthropological Association respect and honor the wishes of a nation in suffering and misery not to indulge Ghani, the perpetrator, with a presentation on their campus. Our nation wants him to be imprisoned for his betrayal of their struggle for a dignified future. 

We are expressing the wishes of the nation of Afghanistan, and we appeal to you, our colleagues, to please do the same. Will you? We hope so!

Sincerely