Hyder Akbar

Hyder Akbar (born 1984 in Peshawar, Pakistan) is an author and entrepreneur in Afghanistan.

Akbar, a citizen of both Afghanistan and the United States, attended Diablo Valley College and transferred to Yale University.[1] Akbar is from a political family, including Said Shamsoudin Majroh, who was the architect of Afghanistan's first constitution in 1964 and who had served as the Minister of Justice and Head of Tribal Affairs; Said Bahaoudin Majroh, who had served as Governor and was considered one of Afghanistan's leading intellectuals; and another influential member of the family was Shal Pacha, a tribal leader whose influence was particularly strong in the eastern region as well as the FATA areas of Pakistan. His father is Said Fazel Akbar, a former governor of the Kunar Province of Afghanistan.[2]

While assisting US forces, Akbar encouraged an Afghan man, Abdul Wali, to turn himself in and assured Wali he would not be mistreated.[2] Akbar accompanied Wali to a US base, and served as a translator for David Passaro, a former special forces soldier, who the CIA hired, on contract, to serve as an interrogator—even though he had no background in interrogation. Akbar later described Passaro as "full of rage"[2] and "a big a-hole".[3] He said he had to stop translating because Passaro became too aggressive.[3] After Akbar left, Wali was beaten by Passaro and later died from his injuries.[4]

Based in part on Akbar's testimony and a letter from his father, who said Passaro created distrust and set back reconstruction efforts, Passaro was convicted of assault and sentenced to eight years and four months imprisonment on February 14, 2007.[5]

Akbar later co-authored with Susan Burton a book about his experiences in Afghanistan, called Come Back to Afghanistan. The book received several honors: San Francisco Chronicle Book of the Year, New York Times Editor’s Pick, USA Today’s Top 10 Memoirs, ALA Top 10 Books for Young Readers.

Akbar has also made two documentaries for the Peabody-winning This American Life on NPR. The first documentary focused on life in Kabul in post-Taliban Afghanistan and the challenges that faced the central government. His second documentary was based on time spent in Kunar, Afghanistan – a volatile province on the border with Pakistan. Akbar’s work on NPR received a National Journalism Award, a Third Coast International Silver Prize and an Overseas Press Club citation.

Akbar has appeared on Morning Edition, PBS and BBC World News among others. He has also been featured in GQ, New York Magazine, and The Los Angeles Times and various other publications. Akbar has also authored articles for The New York Times and Slate.

Along with his work in the media, Akbar has also been involved with Stanford University’s Hoover Institution in archiving and keeping records of Afghanistan’s current events.

Akbar was also the co-director of Wadan Afghanistan, an NGO that he founded to focus on quick impact reconstruction projects in his native province of Kunar. The NGO rebuilt schools and helped villages with access to water among other things.

Akbar is fluent in English, Pashto, Dari, Hindi, and Urdu.

While at Yale, Akbar became the subject of controversy when, along with two other students, he was arrested for arson when he burned an American flag.[6][7] Akbar admitted to burning the flag and had to perform 50 hours of community service.[8]

References

  1. ↑ "Afghan official: Heart attack may not have killed prisoner". USA Today. June 19, 2004.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 "CIA operative admitted killing Afghan prisoner". Capitol Hill Blue. 2006-08-09. Retrieved 2014-02-13.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Clara Jeffery. "A Tale of Two Countries". Mother Jones. Retrieved 2014-02-13.
  4. ↑ "Americas | CIA worker is jailed over beating". BBC News. 2007-02-13. Retrieved 2014-02-13.
  5. ↑
  6. ↑ "One of three students released on bail after arson arrests". Yale Daily News. 2007-04-04. Retrieved 2014-02-13.
  7. ↑ O'Connor, Anahad; Kaplan, Thomas (April 5, 2007). "Prank or Statement? Flag-Burning Near Yale Has Campus Abuzz, and Puzzled". The New York Times. Retrieved May 4, 2010.
  8. ↑ "Court rules on flag arson". Yale Daily News. 2007-04-27. Retrieved 2014-02-13.

External links