http://syn2.thecanadianpress.com:8080/mrss/feed/fcf7391a2f354311807f0501c16bde6a MSN - AP World Copyright © 2010-2018 The Canadian Press. All rights reserved. http://www.rssboard.org/rss-specification Sat, 27 Jul 2024 08:24:17 +0000 http://syn2.thecanadianpress.com:8080/mrss/feed/fcf7391a2f354311807f0501c16bde6a/834e72e557ab4735b401599e3f774600 834e72e557ab4735b401599e3f774600 Sat, 28 Jan 2023 21:05:06 +0000 SHOTLIST: RESTRICTION SUMMARY: PART MUST CREDIT SAMI-ULLAH SAFI ASSOCIATED PRESSHouston, Texas – 27 January 20231. Wide press conferenceHEADLINE: Afghan soldier seeks asylum and American dream2. Close of former Afghan soldier Abdul Wasi SafiANNOTATION: After being held in detention in Texas during a legal fight to remain in U.S., Afghan soldier Abdul Wasi Safi is now a free man seeking asylum in America.ASSOCIATED PRESSKabul, Afghanistan, 31 August 20213. STILL - Taliban special force fighters arrive inside the Hamid Karzai International Airport after the U.S. military's withdrawalANNOTATION: Wasi Safi fled Afghanistan following the withdrawal of U.S. forces in August 2021, fearing reprisals from the Taliban.ASSOCIATED PRESSHouston, Texas – 27 January 2023 4. Pan Sami-ullah Safi to close of US flag5. SOUNDBITE (English) Sami-ullah Safi, brother of Abdul Wasi Safi:"Today a wrong has been made right. And I would like to thank those that have worked tirelessly to secure justice for my brother."6. Wide press conferenceANNOTATION: He was arrested in September near Eagle Pass, Texas, after crossing the Mexico border. He was freed earlier this week. 7.Mid of press conference8.Close of Abdul Wasi SafiANNOTATION: Wasi Safi had been facing a federal immigrant charge but a judge on Monday dropped the count at the request of prosecutors.10. SOUNDBITE (English) Abdul Wasi Safi, former Afghan soldier:"As someone who trained with and stood shoulder to shoulder with American forces in Afghanistan and fought in the war on terror, I am hopeful about the next step in this process. And one day being able to live America, American dream. Thank you so much. Thank you, everyone."SAMI-ULLAH SAFI-MANDATORY CREDITMazar-e Sharif, Afghanistan - 201911. STILL - In this photograph provided by Sami-ullah Safi, his brother, Abdul Wasi Safi, right, is shown in Mazar-e SharifANNOTATION: An intelligence officer for the Afghan National Security Forces, he had fled Afghanistan following the withdrawal of US forces in August 2021.ASSOCIATED PRESSHouston, Texas – 27 January 202312. SOUNDBITE (English) Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, (D) Texas: ++CONTAINS SHOT CHANGES++"America made a promise and America kept her promise. That is the premise on which we stand here today. America made a promise and America kept her promise. Both of these young men grew up, their life was in a war-torn country. Their life was with US soldiers. You have been an important measure, an important part. Your General knows it. The Department of Defense knows it. And so, I'm happy to welcome you and to say you are free. I'm happy. And here is Abdul Wasi Safi."14. Close of certificate of congressional recognition15. Wide press conferenceANNOTATION: Wasi Safi said what he hopes his American dream includes is being able to work and support those members of his family who remain in Afghanistan.STORYLINE:During the months he was held in detention in Texas during his legal fight to remain in the US, Afghan soldier Abdul Wasi Safi thought he would eventually be returned to his home country and meet a likely death at the hands of the Taliban because of his work with the US military.But on Friday, he stood a free man, filled with hope that the help he provided the US military would ultimately help him secure asylum in the United States.Amid hugs from his brother and lawyers, Wasi Safi proudly smiled as he received an award from one of his supporters, Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee, that honored his military service to the US and that he hoped would be a harbinger of things to come for him in his new life in the United States."I am hopeful about the next step in this process and one day being able to live the American dream," Wasi Safi said at a news conference in Houston on Friday.For the past few months, Wasi Safi, 27, had been jailed by federal authorities after being arrested while crossing the US-Mexico border in September near Eagle Pass, Texas.An intelligence officer for the Afghan National Security Forces, he had fled Afghanistan following the withdrawal of US forces in August 2021, fearing reprisals from the Taliban.After making his way last year in Brazil, he started a months-long journey to the US in the summer of 2022, crossing 10 countries on his treacherous trek.Wasi Safi had been facing a federal immigrant charge but a judge on Monday dropped the count at the request of prosecutors.He was freed from a detention center in Eden, Texas, on Wednesday and was reunited with his brother, Sami-ullah Safi, 29, who goes by Sami and lives in Houston."Today a wrong has been made right and I would like to thank those who have worked tirelessly to secure justice for my brother," said Sami Safi, who had been employed in Afghanistan by the US military as a translator before he moved to America.The lawyers, bipartisan lawmakers and military organizations that have been working to free Wasi Safi say his case highlights how America's chaotic military withdrawal from Afghanistan continues to harm Afghan citizens who helped the US but were left behind.Wasi Safi, whose case was first reported by The Texas Tribune, had suffered serious injuries from beatings during his journey to the US, including damaged front teeth and hearing loss in his right ear.Sami Safi said as his brother's asylum claim is reviewed, he will be helping him heal his body and mind and get him acclimated to living in the US.Wasi Safi said part of what he hopes his American dream includes is being able to work and support those members of his family who remain in Afghanistan, including his parents, six sisters and two other brothers.He hopes that one day, they can all be reunited.AP video shot by Lekan Oyekanmi===========================================================Clients are reminded: (i) to check the terms of their licence agreements for use of content outside news programming and that further advice and assistance can be obtained from the AP Archive on: Tel +44 (0) 20 7482 7482 Email: info@aparchive.com(ii) they should check with the applicable collecting society in their Territory regarding the clearance of any sound recording or performance included within the AP Television News service (iii) they have editorial responsibility for the use of all and any content included within the AP Television News service and for libel, privacy, compliance and third party rights applicable to their Territory. Afghan soldier seeks asylum and American dream