An Afghan man who helped organize the minting of a gold medal to thank President Donald Trump for his support in Afghanistan has been murdered by the Taliban.
Zabihullah Mujahid, a spokesperson for the Islamic terrorist group confirmed in a statement on WhatsApp that members of the Taliban were responsible for the death of Gul Nabi, The New York Times reported.
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According to the Taliban, the killing was carried out for Nabi’s “criminal” role in the creation of the medal.
Nabi, a prominent tribal elder, was killed by a bomb attached to the underside of his car on Friday in in Pul-e-Alam, the capital of Logal Province.
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Nabi and his friend, Afghan Local Police commander Farhad Akbari, raised the funds to create the medal in January, after Trump made a critical move to withhold $2 billion in military aid to Pakistan. Many Afghans have long demanded the move because they blame Pakistan for providing a safe haven to the Taliban.
“Now the U.S. president recognizes that Pakistan plays a double game and he cut aid to Pakistan,” Mr. Akbari, 38, said in January. “We sent him that medal to show our unity and our appreciation.”
The pair raised about $640 to buy the gold for the medal, provided mostly by contributions from Logar residents.
When presenting the medal to the American Embassy in Kabul, Nabi and Akbari described it as the “Bravery Medal.”
Akbari told the Times he was planning to flee to India in the wake of his friend’s death, adding that he regretted the decision to make the medal, although he believes Americans appreciated the “work” and “intentions” of him and his friends.
“I don’t want to get killed like my friend, Hajji Gul Nabi,” he said. “My life is under threat.”
In addition, a man who named his son Donald Trump when he was born in 2016 said he is frightened for the safety of his family as well.
“After seeing the reaction regarding my son’s name, and also the Taliban-directed assassination of the guy who awarded President Trump a medal, I don’t feel safe,” Assadullah Poya told The New York Times over Facebook messenger. “The lives of me and my family members are at risk, and I’m asking for protection.”
Poya said that as a result of naming his son after Trump, he lost his job at a refugee agency and was unable to send his older children to school.
(H/T: The New York Times)