Navid Saadati is an Afghan theatre and cinema actor and filmmaker. He holds a bachelor’s degree from the Faculty of Fine Arts of the University of Kabul. Prior to the Taliban takeover in 2021, he worked towards revival and development of theatre in Afghanistan. His artwork explores issues relating to Taliban violence, the position of women in Afghan society and poverty; it centres around the themes of love, tolerance, and peace. After the Taliban takeover, the artist fled Afghanistan and is currently living in exile. AGL provides support to him on several legal issues including relocation support and navigating risks associated with life in exile.
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CASEWORK UPDATE May, 2025: Afghan actor and filmmaker Navid Saadati has been relocated safely to Canada!
Navid’s artistic work highlighting women’s rights issues, poverty, and Taliban violence made him a target following the Taliban’s rise to power in 2021. Fleeing persecution in Afghanistan, Navid landed in Pakistan where he spent almost three years in extremely difficult conditions in exile. During this time, he struggled for basic necessities and faced unending immigration issues rendering him vulnerable to police harassment and exposing him to the risks of arrest and deportation.
Following the initiation of a widely criticised Pakistani government program to deport Afghan refugees back to Afghanistan, Navid’s search for safe-haven became all the more criticalThrough our support for Navid, we first witnessed the devastating impact of Pakistan’s deportation policies on Afghan refugees, particularly Afghan artists. We stayed closely in touch with him during November 2023, when the first wave of door-to-door searches and arrests hit.
Supporting Navid has been a long journey — filled with deep admiration for his talent and resilience, but also with constant concern for the uncertainty of his life in Islamabad and shrinking opportunities for Afghans to find safe haven. His relocation to Canada comes as a tremendous relief. We are confident that his future is now full of promise and that he will achieve great things. We are proud to have supported him along the way – and we know that without the support of our partner organizations, this would not have been possible.
“I want others to know that even in the most difficult circumstances, one should never lose hope. Perseverance and determination are the keys to overcoming hardships. I faced numerous challenges on my path to seeking asylum, but through patience, hope, and resilience, I was able to reach a place of safety. One must never give up, even when everything seems impossible.
My experience working with AGL has been incredibly valuable and life-changing. The organization supported me during one of the most critical and challenging times of my life, helping me navigate and overcome a deeply difficult situation.
In addition, several international organizations played a vital role in supporting me, including: ARC, PEN America, LifeLine, ProtectDefenders.eu, Prisoners of Conscience, Aid for Artists, Freedom House, and Front Line Defenders. These organizations consistently stood by me during crises and offered meaningful support in various forms.
These institutions have been particularly instrumental in advocating for artists and human rights defenders in many countries—especially in Afghanistan.
As a representative of Afghan artists and human rights defenders, I sincerely thank these organizations for their unwavering support and wish them continued success in their mission to defend Afghan women and girls, freedom of expression, the arts, and human rights.”
We are proud to have assisted you, Navid, and we wish you all the best!