Senator Cortese Honors Refugee from Afghanistan, Mohammad "Mustafa" Kohistani
Senator Dave Cortese (D-Silicon Valley) hosted a News Conference today to honor Bay Area refugee Mohammad "Mustafa" Kohistani.
“Here in California, we can and will remain a leader in defending dignity, freedom, and democracy,” said Senator Cortese. “It is our moral obligation and duty to protect children and young people like Mustafa, and today we use this opportunity to uplift his voice.”
Mohammad Kohistani, who goes by “Mustafa”, arrived to the Bay Area as a refugee at 12 years old from the Kapisa province in Afghanistan.
Mohammad's mother, Freshta Kohistani, was a distinguished and outspoken women's rights and democracy activist in Afghanistan who was assassinated along with his brother on Christmas Eve of 2020; she was 29-years-old at the time of her death.
Freshta Kohistani was the recipient of the Secretary of State's International Women of Courage Award from our State Department in 2021.
“As you know, my mother was a prominent women’s rights activist and democracy activist. She was assassinated on the 24th of December (2020) in Afghanistan along with my little brother,” Mustafa explained.
“It is an honor to be here,” said Mustafa.
“Mustafa truly illustrates what courage in the face of adversity looks like and is emblematic of the courage that many young people across the globe possess,” Senator Cortese added.
“One thing I can assure you, collectively as Americans, we will do whatever we can to help them, to get them on their feet, and to introduce to them this wonderful land, and then let them make their own future,” said Faisal Yazadi, Board President of the Evergreen Islamic Center in Senate District 15.
The U.S. federal government evacuated over 130,000 people from Afghanistan, many of whom resettled here in America and here in California. Around the world, there are over 33 million children who must flee their homes.
View a recording of today’s News Conference on Senator Cortese’s website: https://sd15.senate.ca.gov.