From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
This is a list of
Afghan Americans , including both original immigrants from
Afghanistan who obtained
American nationality and their American descendants. To be included in this list, the person must have a Wikipedia article showing that they are Afghan American or must have independent references showing that they are Afghan American and are notable.
Academia and science
Ali Ahmad Jalali (born 1940, Kabul),
Distinguished Professor at the
National Defense University in
Washington, D.C. ; former Afghan ambassador to
Germany
Mohammad Qayoumi (born 1952, Kabul), former President of
San Jose State University
Nake M. Kamrany (born 1934, Kabul), professor at the
University of Southern California (USC) and
economist
Adib Farhadi (born 1972,
Kabul ),
assistant professor at
University of South Florida and coordinator of USF's Executive Education Program; the former
Afghanistan Deputy
Minister of Commerce
Nazif Shahrani (born
Badakhshan ), professor of
anthropology at
Indiana University
Ishaq Shahryar (born 1936, Kabul),
Afghan Ambassador to the United States from 2002 to 2003
Arts and entertainment
Leena Alam (born 1978, Kabul), actress in television, film, and theater, human rights activist
[1]
Sonia Nassery Cole (born 1965, Kabul), human rights activist, filmmaker, and author
[2]
Zohra Daoud (born 1954, Kabul), television host and
Miss Afghanistan 1974
Josh Gad (born 1981), actor, comedian, and singer whose father is an
Afghan Jew
Sameer Asad Gardezi , screenwriter and television writer
Mariam Ghani (born 1978), multi-media visual artist, photographer, filmmaker, human rights activist; of Afghan–
Lebanese descent
Azita Ghanizada (born 1979, Kabul), actress and television host
Donnie Keshawarz (born 1969),
Canadian -born American stage, film and television actor; of Afghani–Canadian descent
Mahaley Patel (born 1987), actress, singer, songwriter; her father is from Afghanistan
Aman Mojadidi (born 1971), visual artist
Vida Samadzai (born 1978, Kabul), actress, model,
Miss Afghanistan 2003, and
Beauty for a Cause of
Miss Earth 2003
Jawed Wassel (1959–2001, Kabul), filmmaker
[3]
Noor Wodjouatt ,
classical Indian musician and television producer, founder of Zarin TV
Business
Hafizullah Emadi (born
Shibar ), independent scholar and development consultant for Focus Humanitarian Assistance
Masuda Sultan (born 1978), entrepreneur, international human rights advocate, and memoirist
Literature
Media and journalism
Music
Sonita Alizadeh (born 1996,
Herat ), rapper and activist
Ehsan Aman (born 1959,
Lashkargah ), musician
Farhad Darya (born 1962,
Kabul ), musician
Qader Eshpari (born 1967, Kabul),
soft rock singer
Qais Essar ,
rabab musician, songwriter
Naim Popal (born 1954, Kabul), musician
Haidar Salim , musician
Farid Zoland (born 1951, Kabul), musician
Politics and civil service
Ashraf Ghani (born 1949,
Logar ), 14th President of Afghanistan
Zalmay Khalilzad (born 1951,
Mazar-i-Sharif ),
United States Ambassador to the United Nations from 2007 to 2009
Safiya Wazir (born 1991,
Baghlan ),
New Hampshire State Representative 2018-present
Nadia Hashimi (born 1977), Democratic congressional candidate for the United States House of Representatives for Maryland's 6th congressional district, pediatrician, and novelist
Laili Helms , former
Taliban supporter and public speaker
Ahmed Wali Karzai (born 1961,
Karz ), politician in Afghanistan until his death in 2011
Ahmad Yusuf Nuristani (born 1947,
Nuristan ), politician,
Governor of
Herat Province in Afghanistan from 2009 to 2010
Mariam Solaimankhil (born 1984), member of
House of the People from 2019 to 2021
Stephen J. Townsend (born 1959),
West German -born American four-star general of Afghan–German descent, commanding general of U.S. forces during the
War on ISIS /
Operation Inherent Resolve
Other
Wallace Fard Muhammad (c.1877–c.1934), founder of the
Nation of Islam , mentor of
Elijah Muhammad
Niloofar Rahmani (born 1992, Logar), former Afghan female pilot
Shaesta Waiz (born 1987), Afghan-born pilot and the first female certified civilian pilot, and the youngest woman to fly solo around the world in a single-engine aircraft
Ahmad Khan Rahami (born 1988,
Kandahar ), terrorist
Najibullah Zazi (born 1985,
Paktia ), convicted
Al-Qaeda member
See also
References