SOCIETY — March 27, 2026

William McCarn Appointed Chairman of Hasht-e Subh Foundation Board

The Hasht-e Subh Foundation, known for investigative journalism on corruption and human rights, has appointed media executive William McCarn as its new board chairman, joining founder Zaki Daryabi and former Bamiyan governor Habiba Sarabi. The organization relocated to Silver Spring, Maryland, after its activities were banned in Afghanistan following the 2021 Taliban takeover.

The Ehtebar Desk — originates with Amu TV2 min read

William McCarn Appointed Chairman of Hasht-e Subh Foundation Board
Image courtesy Amu TV

Silver Spring, Maryland (Afghan Verified) -- The Hasht-e Subh Foundation has appointed media executive William McCarn as its new Chairman of the Board of Directors.

McCarn joins founder and president Zaki Daryabi and Habiba Sarabi, the former governor of Bamiyan province, on the board. The non-profit organization supports independent journalism in Afghanistan and has a history of producing investigative reports on corruption, governance failures and human rights abuses spanning more than 10 years prior to 2021.

The foundation's activities were banned in Afghanistan following the Taliban takeover in 2021, forcing it to suspend operations in the country. Its team subsequently relocated to Silver Spring, Maryland, in the United States, where it continues its work from exile.

Zaki Daryabi praised McCarn's appointment, highlighting his past support for the foundation's efforts. The move comes as the organization seeks to strengthen its leadership amid ongoing challenges for Afghan media outlets operating outside the country.

Hasht-e Subh gained recognition for its in-depth reporting that exposed systemic issues under previous Afghan governments, contributing to public discourse on accountability and transparency. Since its relocation, the foundation has maintained its commitment to journalistic integrity while adapting to its new base abroad.

Read the original reporting at Amu TV

Reliability assessment

Single source (Amu TV) provides concrete, checkable details including named individuals (William McCarn, Zaki Daryabi, Habiba Sarabi), specific roles, locations (Silver Spring, Maryland), and a direct on-record quote from Zaki Daryabi.

The source language reads straight.

Across the newsrooms

Filed by

Filed under

SocietyHasht-e Subh Foundation, William McCarn, Zaki Daryabi, Habiba Sarabi, Afghan journalism

Spotted an error or have more on this story? Tip the desk on Telegram → or WhatsApp →.

Reader supported

Keep Ehtebar running

Every published story uses paid tools to translate reporting, compare sources, extract claims, and produce a clearer read on Afghanistan. Reader support helps keep that work independent.

€5

helps cover daily verification runs

€15

supports a week of source comparison

€50

keeps independent analysis moving