In Kabul tens of thousand of Afghans gathered in the main Stadium. Among them President Hamid Karzai, his deputies, cabinet ministers, former resistance leaders, French Minister for Industries, Heads of Diplomatic Missions, high ranking military officials, family members of Massoud, government officials and school students.

Former king of Afghanistan HM Mohammad Zahir Shah, through a special message, sent his condolences on this occasion.

Afghan Ambassador and Director-General of Afghanistan Radio and Television, Mr Mohammad Eshaq, attending the function in Sydney

On 7 September 2003, an international conference on Massoud was opened by President Hamid Karzai at Kabul Intercontinental Hotel. Speakers from India, USA, Russian Federation, Australia, Iran, France, Tajikistan, Pakistan, Swedan, Sudan and other countries, highlighted various aspects of Massoud's life.

On 9 September 2003, thousands gathered at Massoud mausoleum in Panjshir Valley, 150km north of Kabul, and prayed in different services.

In France, a portrait of Massoud was printed on the national French stamp. This was the first time that the portrait of a personality outside Europe appeared on French stamp.

Participants at Massoud Memorial Lecture, Faculty of Law, Australian National University

Around the world, commemoration meetings and gatherings were held in different countries. In Australia, more than one thousand people attended commemoration meetings in Sydney, Melbourne, Canberra and Brisbane. Also, a gathering was organized in Auckland (New Zealand). Afghan Ambassador and the visiting Director-General of Radio Television of Afghanistan and a close companion of Massoud, Mr Mohammad Eshaq, attended the functions in Melbourne, Sydney and Canberra and addressed the gathering on the life of Massoud. Mr Abdullah Haris, Second Secretary of the Afghan Embassy in Canberra, attended the Auckland function and addressed the gathering. In addition, a number of leading Afghan personalities, including Professor Habiburahman Hala and Professor Amin Saikal, delivered speeches and poetry on this occasion.

Mr Mohammad Eshaq delivering Massoud Memorial Lecture at the ANU

A fresh documentary on the the late Massoud, made by renowned Afghan film producer Yousuf Jan Nisar, was projected on big screen in Melbourne, Sydney and Canberra.

Click here to read the speech of Ms Mariam Hakim delivered on 14th September 2003 in Sydney, at a gathering on the occasion of the 2nd anniversary of the demise of Ahmad Shah Massoud.

Gathering in Sydney