Death in Kabul

I will remember him, as we drove through the streets of Kabul, laughing and arguing with our friend Walid over whose baby daughter is the most beautiful and talented and whose girl will grow up to be the most successful and intelligent.

That was Abid, who was all that was good about the future of Afghanistan. He believed his baby daughter should grow up to be free, proud, and equal. He wanted what was best for his wife who he loved dearly, his family and his country.

But Abid was the victim of the cheating lawlessness in Afghanistan. He was trying to sell his car and his mechanic wanted to re-negotiate the price. Abid demurred and it got tense. Abid left home one morning and later, his car was found abandoned. Abid's identification and wallet was inside. But no Abid.

For twenty days, his family and friends tried to get the police interested in the fate of Abid. Needless to say, they weren't. There are big problems in Afghanistan, and one of the biggest is the breathtaking corruption that riddles the police force, which renders it almost inoperable.

Abid's body was found, beaten beyond what any human should endure, at Bagram.

Whoever killed Abid (and many suspect that they know who did it) will never be questioned, charged or jailed for the crime. It's too hard for ordinary people to pursue justice and too easy for the police to ignore it.

It leaves his friends with extraordinary grief. At knowing they have lost someone who worked so hard in his short life to be a friend to all. It leaves them anguished because the police did nothing and will do nothing. It leaves them guilt ridden because they could not go look for Abid - even though they suspected what had happened - because to do so would put themselves and their families in danger.

And it leaves them with a terrible feeling of doom about their country. That when a star like Abid shines, in Afghanistan it stands for nothing.

As my friend Walid said, "I wish I hadn't known him, because then I wouldn't miss him."

Ahmad Abid Akmal April 13, 1982 - August 13, 2008

Comments

[ABIDY]

The mechanic was arrested one day after Abid"s disappearance but police tried to vanish all evidences that could prove his involvement in my brother"s murder.
My father transferred the case from Kabul Police to the NDS (National Directorate of Security) where he confessed after 40 days.
The mechanic claims that he does not know about the motive as he was contracted by a doctor and close friend of Abid to do so. The case will go to the court in a month but we still do not know about the motive and other partners of mechanic who murdered my brother brutally and left his dead body in a mountain in Bagram district.

[wasim ali]

this is the situation we face with criminals. people don't realise that life is harder with crime and corruption than with vioelence from militia. i hope that abid's family feel that he is resting in peace.

[Sekmet]

I wll echo DaveinBrooklyn (Whom I know well) and say that when terrible things like this happen, people must rise up and take back their village, their town, their nation. Afghans are reknowned fighters, fiercesome warriors and people with a justifiably proud heritage.
We can help them get back up on their feet - as allies. But they are the ones who must say "ENOUGH!" That is when the Taliban will find itself with no where to run, no where to hide.
All Afghans must stay and "continue to work on creating a better more just Afghanistan. .... struggling to make their country better and paying for it with their lives" And the lives of their allies who work with them. We cannot leave them yet...we want them to succeed against tyranny, become the great people they can be. Abid died a victim of the system that needs to be replaced, and Walid needs to become the tip of the spear in his friend's name. Getting the word out is mandatory to their success - and Virginia, you are the tip of That spear. Thank you for posting this...what is being done for Abid's wife and children?

[DaveinBrooklyn]

As someone who had the great fortune to have met Abid and his dear friend Walid back in March of this year, I think its most important that they and others like them do not leave Afghanistan. They did not leave when the Taliban took control of the country and they should not leave now. Abid worked and Walid will continue to work on creating a better more just Afghanistan.

Thank you Virginia for posting this article about Abid and the rest of the Afghans struggling to make their country better and paying for it with their lives.

[kabuller]

This is so sad, really moving. When your country is at war the whole place flounders. We should realise what we do when we are in a war zone - it's not our fault Abid was killed but where is the justice and the rule of law?

[donklinestiver]

Makes you wonder if things would have been better if the Russians won.

[JustAnotherScreenname]

Sad.... in a lot of the parts of the world the only hope for good people is to leave.