Martyr Mohammad Salem Izdiyar, son of Mohammad Alam Izdiyar, was born on May 15, 1992 (25 Sawr 1371) in Bazarak District of Panjshir Province, Afghanistan. He began his early education in his hometown, completed his secondary and high school studies in Kabul, and later enrolled in the Faculty of Persian Language and Literature at Ustad Rabbani Shaheed University.

Mohammad Salem was a dedicated, educated, and responsible young man. After graduating from university, he earned a scholarship from the Government of India and pursued a Master’s degree in Defence and Strategic Studies at the University of Allahabad. Alongside his academic achievements, he was among the founders of the Afghan Students’ Association in India and played an important role in strengthening unity and cooperation among Afghan students.

He was also actively involved in cultural, social, and charitable initiatives. By establishing the “Fikr wa Amal Association” (Thought and Action Association), he sought to encourage youth participation in social and cultural activities. One of the association’s notable achievements was the collection, publication, and distribution of fifteen works by the late Dr. Abdul Hai Elahi in two volumes.

Mohammad Salem was widely respected for his humility, honesty, kindness, and commitment to serving others. He was married and, at the time of his martyrdom, left behind two young children: his daughter Zainab and his son Ismail Samani.

Following the devastating truck bombing at Zanbaq Square in Kabul on May 31, 2017, which claimed the lives of hundreds of civilians, Mohammad Salem joined fellow activists and concerned citizens in organizing peaceful demonstrations to seek justice for the victims and demand accountability. He became one of the active and influential figures of the Justice Movement and the “Uprising for Change” movement.

During the peaceful demonstration of June 2, 2017, while advocating for calm, nonviolence, and respect for citizens’ rights, he was shot and martyred. The following day, the funeral ceremony held in his honor was itself targeted by suicide attacks, deepening the grief and tragedy experienced by his family and the Afghan people.

With the martyrdom of Mohammad Salem Izdiyar, Afghanistan lost one of its educated, committed, and promising young citizens—a young man whose future held great potential for serving his people and contributing to the development of his country. Although his life was cut short, his legacy of knowledge, service, justice, and social responsibility continues to inspire those who knew him.

May his soul rest in peace, his memory remain eternal, and his path continue through those who strive for justice and humanity.