An ex-mujahideen who owned a local TV station in Kabul, illegally downloaded and televised a documentary film that was being transferred by satellite internationally. The documentary explored the life of women in Afghanistan – the daily repression, abuse and subjugation and the lack of legal protection afforded these women. The film was made by M.M., a very talented young Afghan journalist, who is female. Shortly after the film was televised, the young journalist began receiving death threats. The most frightening threat came in the form of a letter from the Taliban. The letter told her that she and her family would be brutally killed because of the film she made.

M.M. and her family were able to escape Kabul and obtain visas to enter the United States with the help of several international groups. Within four weeks of M.M. and her family leaving Afghanistan, the Taliban assassinated two female journalists in their own homes. One of the women was killed in front of her two young sons.

We were introduced to this young family by mutual friends. We prepared and filed an extensive affirmative Asylum application with USCIS. The application was granted. This family now has legal permanent resident status and is filing for U.S. Citizenship.