Karen B. Decker

Karen B. Decker is the American Chargé d’Affaires to Afghanistan since August 1, 2022. She replaced Ian McCary who was also Chargé d’Affaires.[1]

Karen B. Decker

Career

She is a Career Foreign Service Officer (FSO) who previously served as the Director for Afghanistan Operations for the Afghan Relocation Effort (CARE) from September 2021-August 2022, decker was, from September 2018 to September 2020, Deputy Chief of Mission of the U.S. Embassy in Kabul and Senior Civilian Representative in eastern Afghanistan.[2]

Twitter controversy

Decker ended up apologizing after one of her tweets brought a great deal of negative attention. She had said “Afghan girls and women need a ‘movement’ similar to ‘Black Girl Magic’ as they remain starved of even their basic rights under Taliban leadership, has apologized.”.[3] The tweet was deleted.[3] Posted in February 2023 to honor Black History Month, some have characterized the tweet as “tone deaf.”[4]

In November 2022, Decker had talked about Afghani women she met in Pakistan who had “fire in their eyes”, eager to return to Afghanistan “but are afraid of forced marriages and denial of work and education.“[5]

References
  1. Eqbal, Saqalain (August 1, 2022). "Karen Decker Replaces US Chargé d'Affaires for Afghanistan Ian McCary". The Khaarma Press News Agency. Retrieved 4 March 2023.
  2. "Chargé d'Affaires Karen B. Decker". U.S. Embassy in Afghanistan. Retrieved 4 March 2023.
  3. Herlihy, Brianna. "US diplomat apologizes for tweet gone 'awry' saying Afghan women need 'movement' similar to 'Black Girl Magic'". Fox News. Retrieved 4 March 2023.
  4. Latifi, Ali M. (February 21, 2023). "No, Karen, #BlackGirlMagic won't save Afghanistan from the Taliban or the US's mess". The New Arab. Retrieved 4 March 2023.
  5. "Met Eager Afghan Women Full of Potential, Says US Senior Diplomat". Afghanistan International. November 11, 2022. Retrieved 4 March 2023.
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