Ahmad Shah Massoud, National Hero of Afghanistan

The Centre for Arab & Islamic Studies (The Middle East & Central Asia) and the National Institute for Asia and the Pacific, Australian National University, in conjunction with The Cultural and Educational Centre of Afghanistan (CECA) in Australia, presents this special seminar.

Ahmad Shah Massoud dedicated 23 years of his life as the resistance leader, first against the Soviet occupation, then the Taliban and international terrorism.

Massoud was assassinated by international terrorists on September 9, 2001.

He has been declared by the Afghan Transitional Government of President Hamid Karzai as the National Hero of Afghanistan.

This year he has been nominated as a potential candidate for the Nobel Peace Prize.

PROGRAM

Opening address: by H.E. Mahmoud Saikal, Ambassador of Afghanistan in Australia

Guest speakers:

• Mark Davis: A personal encounter with Massoud
• Prof. Habib Rahman Hala: Massoud, his character
• Christopher Kremmer: Massoud's role in the Afghan Resistance
• Prof. Amin Saikal: Massoud, the shield against terrorism

Film Screening: "The Dusk", a poignant 35 minute documentary following Massoud's funeral procession, it features cuts of the interviews he gave, and ends with a chilling prophesy.

This will be a first time Australian screening of the documentary which is made in Afghanistan by Ariana Films.

Question and answer session with speakers

Speaker biographies

Mark Davis
(Award winning Journalist, Reporter/Producer with Dateline on SBS Television)
In 1995, Mark made the world's first feature report, inside Afghanistan, on the then mysterious Taliban. In January the following year he spent a month with Massoud in Kabul while the city was under siege. When Massoud retreated to the Panshir Valley in 1996, Mark was the first TV journalist to spend another month with him. Mark says Massoud was the most impressive man he has ever met.

Prof. Habib Rahman Hala
(Writer, Academic)
Habib Rahman Hala, is the former professor and chairman of the Journalism Department in Kabul University. He acquired his MA in journalism from Michigan State University. Prof. Hala, known as the father of Journalism in Afghanistan, spent six years in prison for his opposition to the Soviet occupation. He has written numerous articles about Massoud before and after meeting him.

Christopher Kremmer
(Author and Journalist)
Christopher Kremmer is the author of 'The Carpet Wars', a human portrait of Islamic West Asia. He met Commander Massoud on several occasions during his visits to Afghanistan as a correspondent for The Sydney Morning Herald, The Age and the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.

Prof. Amin Saikal
(Author and Academic)
Amin Saikal is Director of the Centre for Arab and Islamic Studies (The Middle East and Central Asia) and Professor of Political Science at the Australian National University. He has published many books and feature articles, including in major international newspapers, most importantly the International Herald Tribune, contributing to the public debate on issues relating to the Middle East and Central Asia.

Attendence: invitation only - Contact the embassy for an invitation