Afghan Community Fears Backlash After DC Shooting Incident
The Afghan community in the United States is expressing deep concern following a shooting incident in Washington, D.C., that left one National Guard soldier dead and another critically injured. The alleged shooter, identified as Rahmanullah Lakanwal, is reported to have worked with U.S. military and intelligence agencies before seeking asylum in the country. President Donald Trump responded swiftly to the tragedy, proposing a ban on asylum-seekers and halting immigration from what he referred to as “all Third World countries.”
In the wake of this incident, advocates for refugees are sounding alarms about the potential repercussions for Afghan nationals living in the U.S. “Regardless of the alleged perpetrator’s nationality, religion, or specific legal status, we urge our country to recognize these evil actions as those of one person, not to unfairly judge others who happen to share those same characteristics,” stated Matthew Soerens, a vice president at World Relief, during an interview with the Associated Press.
The tragic events unfolded on Wednesday, when Specialist Sarah Beckstrom succumbed to her injuries following the shooting. Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe remains in critical condition at a local hospital. While the nation mourns these losses, Trump’s response has raised concerns among many observers regarding his approach to leadership during crises.
Community leaders such as Shawn VanDiver, president of AfghanEvac, reported that many Afghans are now fearful of leaving their homes, worried about being targeted by federal agents. “They’re terrified. It’s insane,” VanDiver remarked. “People are acting xenophobic because of one deranged man. He doesn’t represent all Afghans. He represents himself.”
Advocates argue that punishing an entire community for the actions of one individual is unjust. Richard Bennett, the UN special rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Afghanistan, emphasized the need for accountability while protecting innocent people. “The perpetrator should face accountability, but the entire Afghan community must not be punished due to the actions of one individual. That would be terribly unjust and complete nonsense,” Bennett stated.
The backlash against the Afghan community intensified as Trump’s social media posts following the shooting were criticized for echoing white nationalist rhetoric. Arash Azizzada, co-director of Afghans For A Better Tomorrow, condemned the president’s remarks for demonizing refugees. He remarked that exploiting a single incident to cast suspicion on Afghans, who have already faced years of displacement, is both “irresponsible and cruel.”
Furthermore, Azizzada highlighted the background of Lakanwal, who is said to have served with U.S. Special Operations forces and was part of a CIA-backed paramilitary group known as “Zero Units,” which has a documented history of human rights abuses.
“We both condemn the violence by one individual on the streets of Washington, D.C., as well as the violence perpetrated by the U.S. in Afghanistan and elsewhere,” Azizzada added. He called for a comprehensive acknowledgment of the violence inflicted on Afghans and urged the U.S. to honor its commitments to those who assisted during the war.
The group Evacuate Our Allies, which advocates for Afghan allies, also expressed their condolences for the victims of the shooting while condemning the vilification of an entire community based on one person’s actions. “No community, Afghan or otherwise, should be judged, demonized, or collectively punished for the behavior of one person,” the group asserted in a statement.
As the situation continues to develop, many within the Afghan community and their advocates are urging for a measured response that acknowledges the complexities of individual actions and the broader context of U.S. involvement in Afghanistan. They emphasize that collective blame not only harms innocent individuals but also undermines the sacrifices made by those who supported U.S. efforts in the region.
