Many Afghans that are receiving death threats for having worked with the western military are seekin

(6 Mar 2014)
IN THE MIDDLE OF THE DAY...ON THE BUSIEST STREETS...AHMAD ALI IS ALWAYS LOOKING OVER HIS SHOULDER.
EVEN INSIDE THE PROTECTIVE WALLS OF HIS OWN HOME...HE RECEIVES DEATH THREATS AND HAS BEEN BRANDED A "TRAITOR TO ISLAM" FOR WORKING WITH THE GERMAN MILITARY IN AFGHANISTAN.
SOUNDBITE (Dari) Ahmad Ali, former translator for German contingent of ISAF:
"I have been threatened many times, by telephone, writing, and in person."
SHORTLY AFTER HE LEFT HIS JOB...ALI APPLIED FOR A VISA TO IMMIGRATE TO GERMANY.
HE IS NOT ALONE.
MANY AFGHANS WHO WORKED FOR WESTERN MILITARIES SAY THEY'RE BEING TARGETED BY THE TALIBAN...AND ASYLUM IS SEEN AS A WAY TO ESCAPE CERTAIN DEATH.
SOUNDBITE (Dari) Zamir Ahmadi, former translator for German contingent of ISAF:
"We are facing lots of challenges here. I have been threatened over the phone. I have also heard from others that we are a target. It's possible that something bad could happen to us at any moment."
LAST NOVEMBER, THE BODY OF A FORMER GERMAN INTERPRETER WAS FOUND SHOWING SIGNS OF TORTURE...BUT IT'S UNCLEAR IF HE WAS KILLED FOR HIS TIES TO A WESTERN MILITARY.
(nats)
GERMAN OFFICIALS SAY THEY'VE RECEIVED OVER 500 REQUESTS FOR IMMIGRATION VISAS FROM FORMER AFGHAN EMPLOYEES...SO FAR ONLY 10 HAVE SUCCESSFULLY RELOCATED EVEN THOUGH 78 APPLICATIONS HAVE BEEN APPROVED.
SOUNDBITE (German) Brigadier General Walter Ohm, director of military support for the German military in north of Afghanistan:
"Our Afghan colleagues are very important to us. They support us in all departments. If they feel threatened, we take this very, very seriously."
GERMANY IS NOT THE ONLY COUNTRY FACED WITH TRYING TO PROTECT ITS LOCAL EMPLOYEES...THE U-S, BRITAIN, AND DENMARK HAVE ALSO RECEIVED NUMEROUS ASYLUM REQUESTS.
MAGGIE MAZZETTI, ASSOCIATED PRESS.

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