Nemat Sadat (Punjabi: نعمت سادات code: pan promoted to code: pa), born in 1979, is an Afghan-American journalist, novelist, human rights activist, and former professor of political science at the American University of Afghanistan. He is known for his first novel, The Carpet Weaver, and his efforts to support LGBTQIA+ rights, especially in places where Islamic traditions and culture influence attitudes about homosexuality. Sadat is one of the first Afghans to publicly share his identity as gay and to advocate for LGBTQIA+ rights, gender freedom, and sexual liberty in Afghanistan. He has earned degrees from California State University, Fullerton; University of California, Irvine; Harvard Extension School; Columbia University; Oxford University; and Johns Hopkins University.

Early and personal life

Sadat was born in Afghanistan during the Afghan-Soviet War. His family left Afghanistan when he was eight months old. They lived in Germany for several years before moving to the United States when he was five years old. He grew up in southern California. His family stayed connected to family and neighbors from Afghanistan and followed Afghan traditions. The unfair treatment he faced as an Afghan refugee became worse after the 9/11 attacks. This made him strongly value his Afghan identity, even though he never lived in Afghanistan. He never felt completely comfortable living in the United States.

Sadat began to see himself as gay when he was 23 years old. At that time, he was living in New York City away from his family. When he told his parents about his sexuality in his 30s, they asked him to hide his identity and date women. In 2013, he publicly shared his identity, which caused tension with his family. He stayed close to his mother but stopped speaking to his father. His sister eventually accepted him after worrying about their family's safety.

Sadat also said he was no longer Muslim. After seeing how limited LGBTQ rights are in countries where most people are Muslim, he decided that Islam did not match his belief in kindness and fairness. He now describes himself as spiritual.

At one point, Sadat lived in a shelter for people without homes. His sister reached out to him after having a baby, wanting him to meet his nieces. After learning about his situation, his mother invited him to live with her and work on his novel.

Activism

In 2012, Sadat moved to Kabul, Afghanistan. He first worked as a consultant but later became an assistant professor in political science at the American University of Afghanistan. While working at the university, he used social media to help start a secret group that worked to support LGBTQIA+ rights in the country. Rumors spread on campus that he was "a practicing homosexual and a former Muslim," which could lead to the death penalty. Sadat chose to stay in Afghanistan despite the danger.

In July 2013, his public activities were noticed by the Afghan government, which claimed his work challenged Islamic beliefs and threatened national security. Sadat was fired from his job at the university and left Afghanistan, moving to New York City. His replacement was killed shortly after starting the job, and two of Sadat’s friends were kidnapped in a Taliban attack.

In August 2013, Sadat publicly shared that he was gay, becoming the first Afghan activist to openly identify as gay. He received multiple death threats, including a religious ruling issued by Afghan mullahs. In October of the same year, he faced more criticism in Afghan media. In an interview with The Guardian in November 2013, Sadat said, "I am making a sacrifice, but I want Afghan youth to see that there are people who are Afghan and Muslim and gay. It will give them hope."

In June 2016, after the Orlando nightclub shooting, Sadat spoke with several media outlets about his experiences as an Afghan-American, gay former Muslim. He appeared on TV shows, including interviews with CNN’s Christiane Amanpour, Amara Walker, and Don Lemon, as well as NBC News.

Later that year, Sadat took part in a BBC news feature about Afghanistan’s LGBTQIA+ community and joined a debate on BBC Pashto about Islam and homosexuality.

Sadat has been a vegan since 2016, meaning he eats only plant-based foods. He says supporting animal rights is a "natural next step" after working for human rights.

In 2017, Sadat joined the National Pride Parade in Washington, D.C. He appeared on the cover of the Washington Blade and gave an interview for NPR.

After the Afghan government fell to the Taliban in August 2021, Sadat warned that gay men faced serious dangers under Taliban rule. He urged the international community to help evacuate vulnerable people.

In October 2022, Sadat criticized the murder of Hamed Sabouri, a gay man in Kabul who was kidnapped, tortured, and killed by people linked to the Taliban.

Journalism

Sadat has written articles and papers for many publications, such as the Georgetown Journal of International Affairs and Out Magazine. Before he started his job at the American University of Afghanistan, he also created content for ABC News Nightline, CNN’s Fareed Zakaria GPS, and the UN Chronicle.

Publication

Penguin Random House India published Sadat's first book, The Carpet Weaver, in 2019. Sadat explains that the story was turned down by 450 literary agents in the United States and the United Kingdom. He believes this happened because of fear of negative reactions from the Muslim world, partly due to many years of being mistreated because of Salman Rushdie and also because of fear or dislike of Muslims.

The book takes place in Afghanistan during the 1970s and 1980s. It follows the story of Kanishka Nurzada, a young Afghan boy who develops a love that is not allowed with his childhood male friend, Maihan. This happens during a time of peace and beauty in Afghanistan, as well as during the difficult change to a civil war.