Embargoed until 1 p.m. today, July 27, 2023
Jackson County Prosecutor’s Office Joins “Prosecutors For Prosecutors” Campaign to Get 1,500 Prosecutors out of Afghanistan
Campaign Launched by Association of Prosecuting Attorneys Unites US Prosecutors to Bring Afghan Prosecutors and their Families to Safe Countries
The Jackson County Prosecutor’s Office announced today that it has joined Prosecutors for Prosecutors (PFP), a new campaign by the Association of Prosecuting Attorneys (APA-US) to save the lives of prosecutors and their families who remain in Afghanistan.
This campaign was launched in response to a dire request for from the APA-US counterpart in Afghanistan, which has identified more than 3,800 prosecutors and their staff members who remain in Afghanistan and has reported that 26 have been tortured and killed by the Taliban to date.
“I am proud of this project and the leadership of the APA,” said Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker. “There are hundreds of Afghan prosecutors and judges who put their duty ahead of their safety. Now we have a moral duty to act to protect them. My office has committed to offering employment to relocated Afghan prosecutors.”
The new APA-US program was announced and detailed today at a press conference in Salt Lake City, where APA-US is conducted a meeting of their council.
The campaign’s goal is to raise $15 million to save the lives of 1,500 Afghan prosecutors and their families by evacuating them to safe countries.
“Prosecutors in Afghanistan, along with their families, are being hunted and killed because of their commitment towards a safer, more just society, consistent with the goals of transparency and constitutional principles championed by the United States,” said Sim Gill, the Salt Lake County District Attorney. “These prosecutors dedicated their lives to implementing a system based on American democracy and it is costing them dearly. Now is not the time to turn our backs against our partners. Our office, the Association of Prosecuting Attorneys, and prosecutors from around the U.S. are committed to getting our Afghan colleagues and their families to safety.”
Prior to the fall of Kabul in August of 2021, there were approximately 6,000 Afghan staff members of the Afghanistan Attorney General Office supporting rule of law programs. Many were the prosecutors responsible for criminal cases against members of the Taliban for murder, terrorism, assaults, kidnapping, abductions, violence against women, and drug crimes. Most were members of the Afghanistan Prosecutors Association (APA-AF) and trained by the US and allied nations. They are currently hiding – unemployed and facing famine and starvation.
Afghan prosecutors are not eligible for Special Immigrant Visas (SIV) to the US as they were not directly employed by the US government and other visa programs can take years before they are processed. The fastest way to get these prosecutors and their families to safety is by funding NGOs that are able to relocate them, such as Jewish Humanitarian Response.
Every dollar donated to the PFP campaign will go to non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to fund the safe relocation of Afghan prosecutors. Donations may be made at apa-pfp.org.
Once PFP has achieved its goal of raising $15 million to save 1,500 prosecutors, efforts will expand to every Afghan prosecutor seeking relocation. In addition to funds, PFP is seeking experienced, talented, and passionate partners to help relocate prosecutors to places of safety and help them secure employment.
Prosecutors for Prosecutors was founded with support from the following organizations:
Association of Prosecuting Attorneys
Afghan Prosecutors Association
Jewish Humanitarian Response
International Association of Prosecutors
NATO AFG Justice Sector
No One Left Behind
Pennsylvania District Attorneys Association
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About Prosecutors For Prosecutors
All donations are tax deductible to the full extent of US laws for 501(c)3 non-profit organizations. APA-US intends to solicit funds from all persons and organizations who support prosecutors and the work needed to uphold the rule of law around the world.
All funds raised, all funds expended, the specific partner projects supported with project objectives, and results will be available on APA-PFP.org website. No individual names and locations of prosecutors and their families’ members will be publicly disclosed. Any funds received by APA-US for “Prosecutors For Prosecutors” will be fully dedicated and used solely to rescue Afghan prosecutors and their families to bring them safety. Additional information about PFP can be found at apa-pfp.org.