Anil Raj

Anil Raj (April 1, 1984 – November 24, 2019) was an American human rights activist who served on the board of Amnesty International.

He was killed on November 24, 2019, while working on the United Nations Development Programme when the vehicle he was travelling in with two colleagues was attacked.

[1][4] U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced Raj's death at a news conference and described attacks targeting U.N. personnel who are aiding the Afghan people as “unconscionable.” Taliban and the Islamic State groups are active in the region, but no group had claimed responsibility at the time of Pompeo's announcement.

Janet Lord, board of directors chair of Amnesty International USA, issued a statement about Raj's legacy and the impact of his death.

The way that Anil’s life was cut tragically short underscores the grave dangers that human rights workers in Afghanistan face.