Latif Pedram

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Abdul Latīf Pedrām (Persian: عبداللطيف پدرام; born in 1963) is a politician and a former candidate for presidency in Afghanistan where he received the 5th most votes during the 2004 elections[1][2] or 1.2% of the total ballots counted.[3][4] He emerged as a controversial figure [5] in the press and political circles for campaigning for women's personal rights, a taboo subject in Afghanistan's culture. Currently, he is the leader of the National Congress Party of Afghanistan.

Born in Badakhshan in 1963 to a Shia Ismaili Tajik family, Latīf Pedrām is a writer, poet, journalist, and professor of Persian literature. He was director of the library of the Hakīm Nāṣer Ḫoṣrow Balḫī Cultural Center. First a supporter of the communist government, he soon began to openly criticize and oppose the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan. He stayed in Afghanistan during most of the war years, moving around the country to be able to pursue his activities. Latīf Pedrām was finally forced into exile by the advance of the Taliban and their policies of ethnic and linguistic segregation. Before returning to Afghanistan after the demise of the Taliban, he lived for a while in France where he attempted to promote Afghanistan's Persian poetry and literature.

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[edit] Controversies

An article in the Iranian newspaper Nimrooz (2000): Dr. Latif Pedram proposes changing the name of Afghanistan to Khorasan or Aryana, the historical names of the region prior to Pashtun domination.
An article in the Iranian newspaper Nimrooz (2000): Dr. Latif Pedram proposes changing the name of Afghanistan to Khorasan or Aryana, the historical names of the region prior to Pashtun domination.

Latīf Pedrām is a strong supporter of federalism and secularism in Afghanistan. He strongly opposes both Islamic fundamentalism and the American military occupation of Afghanistan.

Perhaps his most controversial statement is the demand for a name-change in Afghanistan. In many publications and articles, he proposed the change of the name "Afghanistan" to "Khorasan", the medieval name of the region, in order to settle some inter-ethnic feuds. His statement is based on the fact that the current name of the country is synonymous with "Land of Pashtuns". The Pashtuns are the largest ethnic group in Afghanistan, comprising ca. 40% of the total population.

[edit] Awards

Dr. Latīf Pedrām has received many international awards, including:

He is also an honorary member of:

  • The International Parliament of Writers and a guest of the city of Suresnes in France
  • The "Association of the Persian speakers of the World" ("Peyvand") and member of the board of editors of Peyvand journal

[edit] Quotes

“ The previous Taliban foreign affairs minister, Wakil Ahmed Mutawakel [...] and many other [Taliban] are living openly in Kabul. Some of these leaders and other [in]famous murderers during the Taliban regime have seats in the National Assembly. Under these conditions, Afghans have the right also to wonder what the foreign forces are doing in their country.[6] ”
“ As a non-religious and multiethnic movement, our project is based on a national economic cohesion so that all Afghan ethnic groups participate in the national decision-making. But we have to recognize the realities: the province of Herat and the province of Paktia, live a century apart from each other; if the fundamentalists who are powerful in certain provinces of the south oppose the opening of schools in the territory they control, why allow them to impose their rule in other more advanced provinces!?[6] - Comment on Afghan president Hamid Karzai's remarks to "invite moderate Taliban into Afghanistan's new government". ”

[edit] External links

[edit] References

  1. ^ [ Afghan Elections 2004-2005 ]
  2. ^ Afghanistan - Country Fact File
  3. ^ [ Afghan Elections 2004-2005 ]
  4. ^ The New York Times > International > Asia Pacific > Karzai Secures Victory in Afghan Election
  5. ^ FRONTLINE/WORLD Fellows . AFGHANISTAN - Without Warlords . A Secular Politician | PBS
  6. ^ a b Interview with "L'Humanité", January 1st 2007, (LINK)