By Akram Gizabi
With great pleasure, I learned that Ahmad Kamal Nateqi is running for the municipal council in Falköping. My pleasure stems from the fact that Ahmad Kamal will be a valuable asset to the council if elected.
My association with Ahmad Kamal goes back more than two decades, to the period after the fall of the Taliban in 2001, when a new republic was formed with the help of American and coalition forces in Afghanistan. I returned to Afghanistan after years of living abroad. There was a great deal of enthusiasm and hope that, after a long and bloody civil war, the country would return to normalcy. Sharing that hope for a brighter future, I joined with like-minded people to establish a political party made up of intellectuals and activists who were tired of the war, violence, and destruction that had plagued the country. It was named the Civil Movement of Afghanistan. As the name suggests, it was a civic movement grounded in democratic principles, advocating pluralism, equality, and freedom.
Ahmad Kamal led the party’s youth section and was remarkably successful in recruiting his peers, friends, and acquaintances into a genuinely cordial and engaged community. The group held weekly educational lectures and discussions, mentored by a young Harvard graduate. Through this work, the party helped mobilize young men and women to play an active, positive role in rebuilding life after the ravages of civil war. Ahmad Kamal’s positive attitude and dedication inspired a team of young adults who went on to become valuable contributors to society, lecturers, civil servants, and other productive professionals.
Unfortunately, the insurgency continued, the situation deteriorated, the parties were disbanded, violence intensified, and with the reemergence of the Taliban, many of the country’s hard-won achievements were lost. Still, the experience and knowledge gained during that time stayed with those who lived it. Most who left Afghanistan have gone on to participate successfully in the economic, social, and political lives of the countries where they now reside. They bring a unique perspective to their adopted societies, and their experiences as immigrants can enrich the path toward integration for others facing similar circumstances.
Ahmad Kamal witnessed violence, religious extremism, and political turmoil from both the left and the right. He can draw on that experience to help others in Sweden who face difficulty integrating into society. He understands the true value of human rights, freedom, democracy, and the rule of law in a way that few without such firsthand experience can. I believe he will make an excellent council member, one who brings fresh ideas and thoughtful perspective to his city.
