Bob McCarty Writes

Earlier today, I published a post about five Afghan students reported missing for more than a week from the campus of the University of Washington.  After contacting a variety of individuals and government agency representatives, I am now able to shed more light on the matter.

At 2:52 p.m. CDT, I received some answers to a set of questions I had sent to Dr. Maria Beebe, chief of party for Afghan eQuality Alliances at Washington State University.  She confirmed that the University of Washington is an alliance partner, despite the fact that the name of the school was not listed on the program’s website.

She also provided the names of the missing students.  They are as follows:

• Mohammed Ratib Abeer — Member of the National Academy of Sciences of Afghanistan (DOB: Feb 13, 1981);
• Masood Ghory — English Instructor for the Independent Administrative Reform and Civil Service Commission (DOB: Sept. 7, 1986);
• Rahmatullah Hamidi — Scientific Member for Curriculum Development, Ministry of Education (DOB: April 3, 1978);
• Numan Tarin — Senior National Coach for the Independent Administrative Reform and Civil Service Commission (DOB: March 6, 1985); and
• Sayed Hashmatullah — National Consultant for the Independent Administrative Reform and Civil Service Commission (DOB: April 15, 1980).

Dr. Beebe said the students were reported “missing” to local police by Ken Peavler after they did not show up in class and their roommates verified that they had not shown up in their rooms.  As program manager at the Evans School of Public Affairs, Peavler’s duties include keeping track of the study-abroad students.

Of the 38 students selected for the program, only 32 remain after one returned home to Afghanistan to deal with a family matter.

Since the Afghan eQuality Alliances program is attracting a number of applicants (250 for the next batch for 36 slots), Dr. Beebe said, program officials can be more selective and add a criteria related to their current job titles.

“So, for example, we can say only directors and assistant director levels would be considered,” she explained.  “At that level, we will also get the older (more mature) students who have children and will have more compelling reasons to go back to Afghanistan.”

Apparently, at least five of the students were not old enough or not motivated enough to want to return.

I have yet to receive additional information from U.S. Agency for International Development or the Department of Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

* * *

UPDATE 10/15/08 4:12 p.m. CDT:  According to a Seattle Times article I just found, a total of seven Afghan scholars have vanished from UW this year.

UPDATE #2 10/15/08 5:26 p.m. CDT:  Added dates of birth (DOB) to information above.  All missing students appear to be 30 years old or younger.

UPDATE #3 10/16/08 6:55 a.m. CDT:  Confirmed: Afghan Students Fled to Canada

Developing…