In this issue Mir Hekmatullah Sadat provides the first intuitive article questioning the implementation of constitutional human rights in Afghanistan, Daud Saba provides an ecological photo essay on his latest travels to Bamiyan, Dr. Amin Azimi and Co-editor Zaheda Ghani each offer moving poems, and the cover image is entitled "Marsh Flowers" ("Gol-ha-e Murdaab") produced by renowned artist Youssef Kohzad.

We have a very exciting and important announcement of a new staff member, Dr. Wali Ahmadi, professor of Near Eastern Studies at University of California, Berkeley. Dr. Ahmadi will be the Literary Advisor for the magazine; we look forward in working with him, and in the future issues, we will explore contemporary fiction with his direction.

We hope that you enjoy this issue. We look forward in reading your feedback and comments and also encourage Afghan writers and also those writing about Afghanistan to contribute work for future publications.

Farhad Azad
Publisher