Rep. Lofgren Announces Guest for State of the Union Address

Father of U.S. Citizen Taken Hostage by Taliban to Join Lofgren to Amplify Call for His Son’s Prompt Release

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, U.S. Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren (CA-18) announced that Soledad, CA resident Ahmadullah Habibi will be her guest for President Biden’s State of the Union address. Ahmadullah Habibi is the father of Mahmood Habibi, an American citizen taken hostage by the Taliban.

“One of the exercises we do in Congress around State of the Union is amplify important stories or situations, and this year I am calling for a U.S. citizen who is being held hostage by the Taliban to be returned home,” said Rep. Zoe Lofgren. “Mahmood Habibi was unlawfully arrested in August 2022, and his father is joining me in the Capitol to call attention to his family’s plight. I condemn the Taliban’s actions in capturing and holding Mahmood, and I stand with his family in calling for his immediate release. It is my hope that we will help secure his release by uplifting his story and reunite him with his family.”

Background

Mahmood Habibi, a U.S. citizen, was arrested in Kabul, Afghanistan because the Taliban believed he was involved in the U.S. drone strike that killed Al-Qaeda leader Ayman Al-Zawahiri on July 31, 2022. Prior to his abduction, Mahmood worked for a U.S.-based telecommunications company in charge of operating Afghanistan's civilian airport infrastructure, such as radar and air traffic control. On August 10, 2022, Mahmood and 30 of his colleagues were arrested by the Taliban. All the hostages were subsequently released, except for Mahmood and one of his colleagues.

Rep. Lofgren is introducing a House Resolution demanding Mahmood Habibi’s immediate and unconditional release.

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