Missing Columbine exchange student seeking asylum
By Tillie Fong, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)
Published May 1, 2008 at 10:47 p.m.
A missing exchange student from Afghanistan who was attending Columbine High School has turned up in Canada - along with five other Afghan students from other parts of the United States.
They are asking for asylum.
"We're just glad he's safe and that he's made contact with his (host) family, and his family wishes him the best," said Lynn Setzer, spokeswoman for Jefferson County Schools.
The student, 17-year-old Mesbah Habibi, was a junior at Columbine High School this year. He was enrolled in a foreign-exchange program run by the American Council for International Education.
"He was on (the) track and field (team), and he was on the newspaper staff," Setzer said. "His (host) family said he was a nice kid."
Mesbah had been with his host family, who did not want to be identified, since August.
He was expected to return to Afghanistan soon after the school year ended May 30.
Last week, the American Council for International Education held a seminar in Washington, D.C., for the foreign students.
"They bring the kids back to Washington for a long weekend for a re-entry seminar on how to say goodbye to friends they made here," Setzer explained.
But Monday, Mesbah did not return to Colorado. On Tuesday, he sent an e-mail to his host family.
"He did contact them to let them know he was safe and to thank them for their hospitality," Setzer said.
But Mesbah did not tell the host family where he was at the time.
The school district did not learn of his whereabouts until officials with the American Council for International Education informed them Thursday that he was in Canada.
Calls to the foreign-exchange organization and U.S. State Department were not returned late Thursday night.
It was not clear Thursday how long the the American Council for International Education has been placing students at Columbine or other schools in the district.
"This is a district-approved program, so they have to be pretty well vetted," Setzer said.
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May 2, 2008
12:59 a.m.
Suggest removal
crazyei8ht writes:
Hmmmmmmmm. An Afghan citizen slipping away into obscurity right under our noses. I feel so much safer now that we've been at war for so long G.W. "He was such a nice kid". So were the 9-11 terrorists.
May 2, 2008
5:39 a.m.
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happymike44 writes:
Well lucky canada I bet they feel so much safer now.But why just stop with one let's send them all there.
May 2, 2008
6:13 a.m.
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ibanez4206 writes:
Way to keep racial profiling alive, fellas. Deplorable.
I, personally see this as an example of how much better... ANY country is than the Middle East. The kids don't even want to go back home.
May 2, 2008
6:45 a.m.
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nicolec writes:
I'm proud that my first inclination was to think like ibanez- after living here for a year (no crazy Taliban, no foreign invasions, no widespread poverty)- I can imagine feeling sick at the thought of leaving and returning to a war zone.
I'm glad I don't have the unleashed biases many Americans have. There are dangerous people living in EVERY country.
If they are granted asylum, are they able to bring their families over? I have student from Iran whose father is still there. She and her mother are here- it must be so tough living apart in totally different worlds. I can't imagine not feeling safe in my country (yes, despite 9/11, I still feel safe). I'm far more worried about some idiot driver killing me (and stats show I'm far more likely to die from that!)
May 2, 2008
7:47 a.m.
Suggest removal
DahmersCookbook writes:
These box-cutter toting lil' terrorists have found yet another way to get across our borders. Big ol' puppy dog eyes, then we approach and "slice, slice",... on the ground next to A rusty box-cutter! Thats how it happens!!!! They prey on your vulnerablilty nicolec, they hate you, return the favor!
May 2, 2008
7:50 a.m.
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nicolec writes:
I hope you're being sarcastic- otherwise, you should probably see someone for the paranoia.
Happy Friday to you!
May 2, 2008
7:57 a.m.
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Marshdale writes:
Pure speculation crazyei8ht. Did it ever occur to you that in our ultra paranoid climate that seeking asylum in the US would be a near impossibility. Would you want to go back to that war torn country? Just what do you think your chances for survival might be if the Taliban new you were educated in American culture. Lets try thinking outside the box instead of assuming everyone from the middle east is a terrorist.
May 2, 2008
8:38 a.m.
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Dick_Tater writes:
Canada has some of the most lax immigration laws, they would get quickly booted out of the US. We have thousands who are trying to immigrate here legally. People we should be letting in.
May 2, 2008
9:35 a.m.
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mrs_ollie writes:
nicolec and Marshdale, you are both a breath of sanity in an otherwise ridiculously bigotted forum. Thank You.
I am saddened by the disgusting levels of ignorance propagated by our government and our media with regard to the Middle East. It smacks of the very unfortunate racial profiling that occurred during WWII. There is nothing right about hating a person based solely on where they come from or what they look like.
May 2, 2008
10:20 a.m.
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momof5 writes:
Any of you read about the deplorable conditions in Afghanistan? People are starving to death. The Taliban is recruiting in record numbers because men want to be able to feed their families. People are standing in line to get an old scrap of bread that used to be considered food for the livestock. After spending nearly a year in a country like the United States, with so much freedom, a grocery store on every corner and what must look like untold wealth for average citizens, can you not understand why this young man would not want to return to his country? The people of Afghanistan have been at war for years. First with Russia, then the Taliban and now trying to survive during the occupation of the United States and its allies.
My son was there for 7 months as a Marine. I asked him what people do there for a living and he said most of them do nothing. There is nothing for them to do. Their country has been destroyed by years and years of war. It is a very backwards country. No wonder this young man wants to stay. What is there for him in Afghanistan?
May 2, 2008
10:27 a.m.
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soccer_mama writes:
I find it so funny how people feel sad for these criminals (failing to return to their country after their visa's have expired) let this be a mexican kid(s) who failed to return then the topic would be about these "illiterate peasants" taking over our country.
May 2, 2008
10:34 a.m.
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justcurious writes:
momof5 you think because they have to fight to get food, or fight to find a job thats its okay for them to be here and they deserve it. Well I am the wife of an Infanrty soldier in the Army, and I want you to know before you start defending these people that those people who are begging for food or fighting for a job are also the people running around with bombs strapped to their chest blowing up our families and everyman who fights for your pathetic right over here to defend the afghans.
May 2, 2008
10:57 a.m.
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nicolec writes:
justcurious, you are ignorant.
Who are "those people"?
Do you honestly think every person living in the Middle East or Afghanistan is "running around with bombs strapped to their chests"?
I appreciate being angry that your son is in a dangerous country, but if you knew anything about the country then you'd know that MOST of the people living there are simply trying to survive- and aren't interested in blowing anyone up.
May 2, 2008
11:10 a.m.
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WHYYYY writes:
I find it very hard to believe that people are STILL not understanding that it is NOT racism to distrust people from country's where;
-mothers are happy when their children become suicide bombers against westerners
-The leaders are controlled by religious nuts who are VERY VOCAL about their hatred of America and western society
Remember, it's not a race, it's a RELIGION and if you had been paying any attention at all in history you would realize that this war has been going on for hundreds of years. It's not paranoia created by modern propoganda machines It's called self preservation!
May 2, 2008
11:23 a.m.
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WHYYYY writes:
Hey justcurious thank your husband for those of us who understand the danger "those people" pose to all of us, even those who would allow "them" to come over here to blow nicolec up. Your husband is doing the right thing! Only when "those people" start blowing people like nicolec up will people like nicolec wake up.
Nicolec, I suspect you have a knee jerk reaction to the use of the term "those people" because you equate it wil racism. Read my lips, it's NOT RACISM, it's a RELIGION not a race.
What do "those people" do to captive westerners? Hey nicolec, take your next vacation in Afghanistan, try getting to know the locals. But remember not to name your teddy bear Mohammed.
May 2, 2008
11:31 a.m.
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WHYYYY writes:
Momof5
I'm sorry for the people in Afghanistan but they are the ones who put up with the Taliban and their relgious leaders who promote war.
You can't save people who don't want to be saved.
Ever read the Koran? I have. I know for a fact it promotes hatred and destruction of unbelievers by deception, weapons, or any means necessary.
May 2, 2008
1:08 p.m.
Suggest removal
nicolec writes:
WHYYY- you too are ignorant.
Have you read the Bible?
Check out Leviticus.
All Muslims are not terrorists (thank goodness- we'd really be in trouble). There are extremists who do want to see us Westerners dead- and I do find them incredibly scary. I don't think every person living in the Middle East is a threat, nor do I think all Muslims are a threat to my country. As a matter of fact I work with hardworking, good Muslims IN this country (who are Americans). So your form of bigotry isn't racism, fine, it is still bigotry.
As for how captives are treated- BOTH the U.S. and those extremists are guilty of torture, BOTH are in the wrong.
Finally, having a more complex understanding of culture and current events doesn't mean I'm not awake. It means I'm not paranoid and am able to question why things happen without assuming that everything is all or nothing (ie: A Muslim blew up the Twin Towers= all Muslims want to blow up American buildings). That would lead to a lot of sad conclusions (a man raped my friend= all men rape). I'm sorry if I can't accept your generalizations that are based in fear and hate.
And I genuinely hope I don't get blown up- I am concerned that you think it would take me getting nearly killed to agree with you or to see your point view. Sounds a lot like the reasoning suicide bombers use.
May 2, 2008
4:56 p.m.
Suggest removal
WHYYYY writes:
Call me a bigot I don't care. I am a bigot. I am intollerant of religionists that teach their follower to kill me. I want to live! I want my children to live and their children and even you!
I am NOT intollerant of their beliefs because they are different than mine. (which is the definition of bigot btw) however I can think of a group of people who DO fit the definition - Muslims
I will never be tollerant to death.
Here's the low down;
- They don't want us over there, they don't want anything to change over there
- Their leaders (political or religious) are extremists
- since they don't want our help, and their leaders are extremists
it follows that the majority of the population are extremist sympathisers
- I'm not paranoid, I'm a realist
May 3, 2008
10:16 p.m.
Suggest removal
justcurious writes:
yeah they dont want us over there, but as you can see our country thinks for some reason we need to be there. I mean i guess we could pull all our men and women out and see what happens to our country, cause if you ever keep up with current events as I hear them everyday from inside sources, they are still trying to smuggle bombs and guns out of their country. You say not everyone over there carries bombs on there chest. Bla Bla Bla... It is there choice it was there choice they have a choice to put on those bombs and for the many women and children people say are forced to do it Bull Crap. I know for a fact I would tell them to F off and yeah they might shoot me but hey at least it would only be my life and not hundreds of others. I hate people that sit here and talk about the war and how not all people from Afghanistan or Iraq or bad, maybe you and my husband need to switch places and you can go get shot at and blown up for trying to help there pathetic lives become a little better.