Just under a year ago, Hamid Nangialay Kabiri found himself caught up in a difficult situation: Having worked at the Afghan Consulate General in Bonn for six years, most recently as its head, he decided to step down in September 2025 rather than comply with the German government's demand that he cooperate with Taliban representatives.
"I said: I'm sorry, but I can't do that. They are terrorists. I grew up under their government in Afghanistan, and I watched many of my classmates being killed. I cannot accept them as colleagues," he told DW.
Just nine months later, it has become reality: Both the Afghan Consulate General in Bonn and the embassy in Berlin are now headed by Taliban representatives. Four more diplomats are expected to arrive in Germany, the federal government has confirmed.Former Acting Consul for Afghanistan, Hamid Nangialay now fears for his safetyImage: privat
Meanwhile, Kabiri, who steadfastly refused to cooperate with the Islamist group, now doesn't ever leave his apartment on his own, out of concern for his safety. He has also been forced to apply for asylum so he can remain in Germany.
"I lost my first homeland, Afghanistan, and I do not want to lose my second home, Germany, because I truly feel at home here," he said. "In the past, anyone applying for asylum was subjected to intense scrutiny to ensure they had not cooperated with the Taliban. Now I may have to leave the country because I refused to cooperate with them. That's a double standard."
