Quick Facts
Biography
Razaq Mamoon (born December 27, 1964) is an ethnic Tajik author, political analyst and journalist in Afghanistan. He is originally from the Panjshir province of Afghanistan. He is currently the author of his personal blog in which he analyses news and also has published more than 2000 political and non-political articles. He is known as one of the most famous authors in Afghanistan.
Career
Razaq Mamoon is one of Afghanistan's a prominent journalists and authors. He was the director of the Bust-i-Bastan News Agency. He has worked in the past for BBC Persian Radio, and was the chief editor of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) in Kabul. Mamoon has also hosted a popular political television show at Tolo TV, where he interviewed famous personalities. His interviews were extremely controversial in nature and thus he was not liked by many of his guests. He was later removed from his post due to alleged government pressure on the Tolo TV station. At the moment he is busy on his own blog in the name of "گزارش نامه افغانستان " where he posts political analysis and news. He was also the chief editor of The Kabul Weekly (هفته نامه کابل) from 1991 till 1994. In 2006, he became the chief editor of the Payman Daily (روزنامه پیمان) in Kabul, Afghanistan until mid 2007.
He is the author of numerous books, novels and short stories in Dari (Persian), including The Time of Suicide (Asre Khod Koshi), The Household’s Memories (Khaterate sahb khana), The Afshin Drama (Namayesh-nama Afshin), The Abdul Khaliq Drama (Namayesh-nama Abdul Khaliq), The Right to Rule (Haqe Padshahy), The Handwriting of The Kabuli Man (Dast nawis haye mard Kabuli), The Political Notes (Yad dasht haye siasy), Masoud in Intelligence War (Masoud dar nabard estekhbarati), How was Ahmad Zahir Assassinated? (Ahmad Zahir chi guna terror shod?), The Earthquake Drama (Namayesh-nama Zelzela), The Incidents that Happened (Waqaye Etefaqia), The Armed Technocrats (Technocrat haye mosalah), The Secret Look (Negahe Makhfi), The Covered Secret: The Secrets About Dr. Najibullah’s Murder (Raz Khwabida: Asrar Marg Doctor Najibullah), The Covered Secret Second Edition: The Mystery Behind Farooq Yaqoubi’s Murder (Raz Khwabida Jold Dowom: Moamai Marg Farooq Yaqoubi), The Lost Game (Bazi Bakhta Shoda), Pharaoh’s Footprint: Iran’s Role In Ahmad Shah Massoud’s Assassination (Rad Paye Ferrawn: Naqsh Iran Dar Terror Ahmad Shah Massoud) and The Kind Tigers (Babr Haye Mehraban).
He is a fierce critic of the politics of Iran and Pakistan as well as certain Afghans who are pro-Iranians. In January 2011, Mamoon became the victim of an acid attack in which he accused Iran for being involved. He has recently written a new book Rad-i-Pai-Firaaon (Footprint of Pharaoh), about Iranian p
Politics and their interfering role in Afghanistan. President Hamid Karzai strongly condemned the attack on Mamoon, ordering the perpetrators to be brought to justice. The attacker was arrested a few days later by the Afghan National Police at which point he confessed to committing the crime. During the confession, the accused criminal stated that several men with Iranian accent forced him to throw acid on Mamoon's face. He made his blog after his treatment was finished in India.
"If I hadn't attacked Mamoon, the lives of my wife and children would have been in danger."
— Khwaja Abdul Rafi (a resident and national of Afghanistan. He is also allegedly described as the accused criminal), January 24, 2011