A court in Virginia has acquitted Haroon Hakimi, a former deputy minister of information and culture in Afghanistan and a former diplomat, of charges of sexual assault.
Abdul Bari Jahani, Afghanistan’s former minister of information and culture, announced the decision, stating that the court ruled in Mr. Hakimi’s favor on Friday, declaring him not guilty.
Mr. Hakimi was arrested in March 2024 after a 27-year-old woman accused him of sexual assault. However, he consistently denied the accusations, calling them baseless and asserting his innocence throughout the legal process.
The case stirred significant debate among Afghan citizens and politicians. While some criticized Mr. Hakimi and demanded accountability, others voiced their support for him, underscoring the polarization of public opinion.
Mr. Hakimi served as the deputy minister of information and culture and worked as a diplomat under Afghanistan’s former government, prior to the Taliban’s return to power in August 2021.
