Date: August 6, 2025
Frankfurt Germany — Serious concerns are emerging within Afghan-American communities regarding the online activities of certain Afghan evacuees, including Aziz Sheerzad, a former employee of the Ministry of Interior (MOI) during the administration of former President Ashraf Ghani.
Sheerzad, who was reportedly relocated to the United States after the Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan in August 2021, began a visible social media presence under the username Aziz_Polat on TikTok in 2022. Despite having stated to U.S. immigration authorities—specifically in documents submitted to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)—that he feared for his life and fled Taliban threats, his current online behavior appears to contradict that claim.
Multiple live broadcasts on TikTok show Sheerzad speaking on themes of ethnic superiority, nationalism, and in some cases, making statements interpreted by many Afghan viewers as sympathetic or supportive of Taliban narratives. This has alarmed members of the Afghan diaspora in the U.S., many of whom view such rhetoric as dangerous and divisive—especially coming from individuals who were granted relocation and legal protections under humanitarian grounds.
In an age where social media platforms play an increasingly influential role in shaping narratives, TikTok has inadvertently become a venue for controversial and politicized discourse among certain Afghan evacuees. Observers note that such content may deepen tensions within Afghan refugee communities and potentially mislead American audiences about the true political and humanitarian situation in Afghanistan.
Legal experts are also raising flags. Under the U.S. Refugee and Asylum System, applicants are required to declare truthfully any threats to their safety and political affiliations. Any contradictory statements or public behavior that undermines those claims may fall under perjury, immigration fraud, or national security concerns.
Additionally, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security enforces various provisions, including those outlined in Section 8 U.S.C. § 1182(a) and INA § 212, which prohibit individuals from entering or remaining in the U.S. if they have engaged in activities contrary to their visa status or if they pose a threat to public order.
Social media behavior is now increasingly being used as evidence in both immigration proceedings and benefit reviews. The growing trend of using TikTok and similar platforms for political messaging has drawn scrutiny from federal agencies. In fact, the USCIS Communications Department has confirmed it is currently reviewing concerns raised about Aziz Sheerzad, also known online as “Aziz Polat.”
Afghan civil society groups in the United States are now calling for more robust monitoring, community accountability, and a review of evacuated individuals’ ongoing public behavior, particularly when such conduct may contradict the spirit and legal basis of their asylum or relocation status.
As debates around free speech, national security, and immigration integrity continue, the case of Aziz Sheerzad serves as a reminder of the evolving challenges posed by digital platforms in a post-evacuation landscape.
