Plane Tickets for Afghan Judge Fleeing to US

****Status Update****** Thank you to all have donated already! Thus far, we have been successful in obtaining travel approvals and plane tickets for five family members to relocate to the US. This family group (one of Judge M.A.’s son’s, his wife, and their children) are now safely settling into new homes in New York. We anticipate receiving final travel approvals for an additional three family members by the end of October. Two other family members are still awaiting appointments for medical screening – we anticipate their final travel approvals within one month. Once final travel approvals have been received, we will need to purchase plane tickets and assist with initial rental costs for an additional five individuals in the very near term.

Original Post:

My name is Rebecca Yagerman Deming. I worked in Afghanistan with USAID from 2011 to 2012 as a Senior Rule of Law Advisor. I am raising funds for my colleague and friend, Judge M.A. and his family to fly them safely to the United States and restart their lives after Afghanistan fell to the Taliban. (Names must be redacted to protect them from active Taliban threats.)

Shortly after the Taliban took control of Afghanistan in 2021, Judge M.A. contacted me for help. His family was in hiding, and he received death threats from the Taliban naming him as an enemy of the state because of all his work sentencing Taliban. I have been working with a team of pro bono attorneys and other community volunteers for the past two years to get US government approvals for him and his family to relocate to the US. We are finally at a point where we have begun purchase plane tickets for him and his immediate family to fly them to the U.S.

Judge M.A. understood the gravity of his role in the administration of justice, giving the public a venue to resolve disputes, and strengthening the legitimacy of the central government that US and NATO forces helped install. During his career, he sentenced hundreds of Taliban fighters and petty criminals. He lost many colleagues and friends who were working to uphold access to justice. His efforts directly contributed to the safety of our troops during the two decades we were at war. Because he was employed by the Ministry of Justice, he did not qualify for any of the special categories of visas, and the US government will not pay for his travel to the US.

Anything you can do to support this effort will go directly toward paying for his travel expenses and giving him a head start at his new life in the US. Please share this widely.