A crime is individual; a whole nation should not pay for the wrongdoing of one person.؛Report by Shahbano Noori

A crime is individual; a whole nation should not pay for the wrongdoing of one person.؛Report by Shahbano Noori

Washington, D.C. – Following the recent incident in Washington, D.C., Dr. Petoni issued a statement warning against the growing atmosphere of collective blame and judgment targeting the Afghan community. She emphasized that although this event is “tragic and unacceptable,” it must not become a pretext for discriminatory treatment of all Afghans.

Dr. Petoni stressed that thousands of Afghan citizens who have sought refuge in various countries in recent years have fled war, violence, and gender apartheid, and deserve safety and humanitarian protection. She warned that attributing the actions of one individual to an entire community is unjust and contradicts fundamental human rights principles.

According to her, “True leadership in times of crisis means choosing justice over fear and emotional reactions.”

She called on governments and international institutions to maintain their supportive policies toward Afghan refugees and refrain from imposing punitive or collective measures.

Civil society organizations and refugee rights advocates have also reiterated that the vast majority of Afghan refugees are innocent and stand alongside all migrants who strive to build a safe and dignified life