Former football association chief accused of sexual abuse meets Taliban governor

Keramuddin Keram, the former chairman of the Afghan Football Association who was found guilty of sexual assault by the previous government’s prosecutor, has met with the Taliban governor of Panjshir.

He had previously been accused of sexually harassing girls in his office and fled to Punjab during the previous government’s term in office.

Since the previous government’s forces were unable to arrest Keram, he resurfaced and publicly praised the work of the Taliban governor. Former Finance Minister Omar Zakhilwal also attended the meeting.

Keram praised the Taliban victory as a “source of pride for the people.” Talks between Keram and Zakhilwal focused on “ensuring security and peace in Panjshir” and “supporting the stability” of Taliban rule.

According to Bakhtar News Agency, the two claimed that the residents of Panjir were happy with the Taliban government. During his meeting with Mohammad Agha Hakim, the Taliban governor of Panjir, Zakhilwal rejected external criticism of the regime, saying: “The allegations made abroad against the Islamic Emirate are far from reality.”

Zakhilwal further commented: “With the establishment of the Islamic regime, a real atmosphere of peace has emerged in Afghanistan, especially in Punjab, the likes of which has never been seen in the past.”

Zakhilwal urged former senior officials not to be fooled by foreigners and to return to Afghanistan. In an earlier interview with Afghanistan International, he had criticized the increasing corruption under the Taliban and called the government “illegitimate and non-national.”

Keram, who was also governor of Panjshir under the previous government, praised the Taliban’s rule as a source of pride not only for Afghanistan but for all Islamic governments.

He expressed his determination to “continually support and strengthen the foundations of the Islamic system (Taliban).” The Taliban governor highlighted the presence of these former officials as evidence of ensuring security in the country, especially in Panjshir, noting: “We have no enmity with anyone; the past is the past.”

In 2019, Afghanistan’s Attorney General convicted Keram and seven others of sexually abusing female football players and other charges including sexual assault and harassment, abuse of office and concealing crimes.

After the verdict, Keram fled to Panjir and did not respond to the court. Previously, some residents of Panjir accused him of facilitating the Taliban’s invasion of the region and the defeat of the resistance in September 2020.

Now Keram claims that he lives in Afghanistan with his family and relatives without any problems.