US envoy to Afghanistan issues apology for ‘inappropriate tweets’

The top US diplomat to Afghanistan apologized for tweets suggesting that Afghan women are in need of encouragement and might find it in African American history and culture, following the social media campaign #BlackGirlMagic.

Despite her “best intentions,” US Envoy Karen Decker tweeted that a number of her earlier messages in which she said Afghan women may gain inspiration from figures like pop stars Beyoncé and Lizzo became “awry.” Users were outraged by her statements online because they seemed tone deaf and ignored the condition of Afghan women, whose rights have been severely restricted ever since the ultra-conservative Taliban took back power in 2021, according to France 24. 

In an attempt to honor Black History Month, Decker tweeted on her official account, asking whether or not Afghans are familiar with #BlackGirlMagic, a hashtag to honor black women, culture and heritage that first became popular in 2016, and whether Afghan females require a movement like this or not. Decker mentioned in her tweets the suffering and oppression of Afghan women living under Taliban rule. Later, she removed a number of tweets on Black History Month, the New York Post reported. 

In August of last year, Decker, a career diplomat, was appointed Chargé d'Affaires of the American Mission to Afghanistan in Qatar.

Following her tweets, Decker received a mild reprimand from the Biden administration, which has come under fire for its withdrawal from Afghanistan and subsequent handling of the matter. The State Department's spokesperson, Ned Price, stated that the tweets were written by Decker and represented her alone and were not approved by the department. Decker's apology followed the criticism of the State Department, according to NBC News. 

It is worth mentioning that since the Taliban came back to power in 2021, women have been effectively excluded from public life by the hardline Islamist leadership who have outlawed them from working for the majority of assistance organizations or attending school or university, parks, gyms, and public baths, and have also commanded them to cover up in public, France 24 reported. 

The country is also dealing with one of the worst humanitarian crises ever. According to aid organizations, nearly four million children are malnourished, and more than half of its 38 million residents are going hungry this winter.

Afghanistan's economy is currently on the verge of collapse, with millions of people facing unemployment, NBC News reported.