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Homosexuality is considered serious crime in Afghanistan and the possible punishment for homosexuals may include the death penalty. However, gay community is secretly flourishing in Afghanistan.
In some cases, the homosexual Afghans are coming out of the closets and openly speak about their homosexuality in one of the most complicated society, where homosexuality is not only a crime, but also a deep cultural taboo that’s hardly ever discussed publicly.
A professor in Afghan American University, Nemat Sadat is among the several homosexuals in Afghanistan who has public admitted is homosexuality.
The professor in a message posted on his Facebook wall said, “I’m so happy to have finished the process of “coming out” to the entire world. Burden lifted forever.”
Sadat further added, “For the last few people in the planet who don’t know, let me tell you now: Yes, I am proud to be gay, Afghan, American and Muslim.”
“So get over it! Now, I can live life without all the kala jaan’s & kaaka jaan’s (aunties & uncles) harassing and pressuring with questions. Now, no grown-up shall dare ask me why I haven’t married a woman,” Sadat said through wall message.
He also added, “If they do, I will simply shake my head, snap my finger, toss my hair and tell them I am marrying a distinguished gentleman and in Pashto we call it خاوند “khaawand” (owner, proprietor husband) and if you want to offer your son or nephew for my hand then tell him I want a platinum ring on my finger, a Central Park wedding ceremony and a Manhattan skyscraper rooftop reception afterwards. I have it all planned out. The bespoke lifestyle awaits. Oh yeah!”.
Another Afghan gay, Hamid Zaher who is currently living in Toronto, Canada has written a memoir about what it was like to be a gay man in Afghanistan.
Hamid Zaher’s memo (book) which has never been published in Afghanistan reflects the misery of his personal life after he escaped Afghanistan in 2011, not because of the oppressive Taliban.
His book details his anguished years as a closeted gay Afghan man. He was disowned by his entire family after he disclosed he was a gay man, and he will be killed if he returns back to Afghanistan.
It is also argued that gay issues in Afghanistan can’t find a footing in the hierarchy of human righrts issues, where violence against women and girls occur daily, even the democracy push fueled by the US-led coalition that ousted the Taliban has failed to help gay Afghans live safely out of the closet.
And the revelation in rare cases is considered to be revolutionary in today’s Afghanistan, according to human rights activists who believe that Afghanistan is a no-go area for gays.
In some cases, the homosexual Afghans are coming out of the closets and openly speak about their homosexuality in one of the most complicated society, where homosexuality is not only a crime, but also a deep cultural taboo that’s hardly ever discussed publicly.
A professor in Afghan American University, Nemat Sadat is among the several homosexuals in Afghanistan who has public admitted is homosexuality.
The professor in a message posted on his Facebook wall said, “I’m so happy to have finished the process of “coming out” to the entire world. Burden lifted forever.”
Sadat further added, “For the last few people in the planet who don’t know, let me tell you now: Yes, I am proud to be gay, Afghan, American and Muslim.”
“So get over it! Now, I can live life without all the kala jaan’s & kaaka jaan’s (aunties & uncles) harassing and pressuring with questions. Now, no grown-up shall dare ask me why I haven’t married a woman,” Sadat said through wall message.
He also added, “If they do, I will simply shake my head, snap my finger, toss my hair and tell them I am marrying a distinguished gentleman and in Pashto we call it خاوند “khaawand” (owner, proprietor husband) and if you want to offer your son or nephew for my hand then tell him I want a platinum ring on my finger, a Central Park wedding ceremony and a Manhattan skyscraper rooftop reception afterwards. I have it all planned out. The bespoke lifestyle awaits. Oh yeah!”.
Another Afghan gay, Hamid Zaher who is currently living in Toronto, Canada has written a memoir about what it was like to be a gay man in Afghanistan.
Hamid Zaher’s memo (book) which has never been published in Afghanistan reflects the misery of his personal life after he escaped Afghanistan in 2011, not because of the oppressive Taliban.
His book details his anguished years as a closeted gay Afghan man. He was disowned by his entire family after he disclosed he was a gay man, and he will be killed if he returns back to Afghanistan.
It is also argued that gay issues in Afghanistan can’t find a footing in the hierarchy of human righrts issues, where violence against women and girls occur daily, even the democracy push fueled by the US-led coalition that ousted the Taliban has failed to help gay Afghans live safely out of the closet.
And the revelation in rare cases is considered to be revolutionary in today’s Afghanistan, according to human rights activists who believe that Afghanistan is a no-go area for gays.
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