Money belongs to the people of Afghanistan and should be used to stabilize economy and relieve suffering, court filing says.
By the Center for Constitutional Rights
Afghan civil society groups are opposing the effort by a group of 9/11 families and other U.S. victims to seize billions of dollars from the Central Bank of Afghanistan to satisfy judgments against the Taliban. In an amicus brief filed yesterday, they argue that the $3.5 billion in blocked assets belongs to the people of Afghanistan and should be used to stabilize the economy and alleviate the humanitarian catastrophe there.
At issue are $7.1 billion that the previous government of Afghanistan placed in the New York Federal Reserve. After the Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan in August 2021, the Biden Administration froze the funds. In February, President Biden signed an executive order effectively allocating half for humanitarian relief in Afghanistan and leaving half subject to litigation brought by some of the 9/11 families.

A group of 9/11 families that won a 2011 default judgment against those responsible for the attacks, the Havlish plaintiffs, have filed a motion in the Southern District of New York arguing that more than $2 billion of the Afghan assets should be turned over to them. U.S. victims of a 2016 attack on a compound in Afghanistan have filed a separate motion seeking $138.4 million of the funds.
Recent Posts
I Was Fired From Emerson College For Speaking Out About Palestine, But I Refuse To Be Silent
May 21, 2025
Take Action Now Anna Feder is suing Emerson College for firing her over her Palestine activism. She says she will never stop advocating for a free…
The Path To Medicare for All
May 21, 2025
Take Action Now How can the U.S. take steps to join the rest of the developed world in adopting single-payer health care?By Dean Baker,…
(Not Quite) Tinder For New Activists: “Why Don’t We Already Have This?”
May 20, 2025
Take Action Now Many people are looking for a way to do something. They have heard that we the people — all of us — may be the last functioning…
What Could The Pentagon’s Record $1 Trillion Budget Pay For Instead?
May 20, 2025
Take Action Now President Trump is seeking a record $1 trillion budget for the Pentagon in 2026. What else could we do with that much money?By…