Philly-Afghan Info Hub Newsletter, September 14th, 2026

U.S. / National News

1. Iran and Saudi Arabia face growing regional tensions as fighting disrupts key shipping routes

Iran stated a meeting will be held with Iraq and the Gulf countries in Oman to discuss the Strait of Hormuz. Bahrain, which has experienced a lot of attacks from Iran during the war, has declined.

Saudi Arabia continues to get more intertwined in the conflict between the U.S. and Iran. As Iran-backed Houthi rebels took both the port city of Mokha and a Red Sea island from Saudi-backed Yemeni government forces. THe Houthis have taken this area in order to block Saudi Arabia from using the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, which Saudi Arabia uses to transport its oil. Saudi Arabia is also experiencing drone attacks from Iran-backed militias in Iraq. 

Saudi Arabia has traditionally relied on U.S. military support, but U.S. involvement has been limited as Washington focuses its attention on the conflict with Iran.

Why it matters: The fighting is expanding beyond Iran and the U.S., putting Gulf countries, oil shipments and major international waterways at greater risk. Any disruption to the Strait of Hormuz or Bab el-Mandeb could affect global energy supplies and prices, including in the United States.

2. Germany’s far-right AfD wins major state election but falls short of a majority

• The far right AFD (Alternative for Germany) Party won a major parliamentary election in the German State of Saxony-Anhalt. The party now controls 39 out of 83 seats in the state’s parliament, with only three short of a majority.
• The AFD is known for being anti-immigrant and for promoting German nationalism that whitewashes Nazi Germany’s involvement in World War II. No far-right party has held control of a German state since Nazi Germany in 1945.
• Due to the AFD being short of three seats of an absolute majority, they will have to work with other German parties in order to accomplish any of their goals. 
• A majority of German parties have refused to work with the AFD due to their extremist politics. In addition, some Germans have been calling for a ban of AFD, which in the past has been done to political parties in German on both the far-left and far-right.

Why it matters: The AfD’s strong performance highlights the growing influence of anti-immigration politics in Germany. The outcome is especially significant for immigrants and refugees because the party has called for much stricter immigration policies, while the inability to form a government alone means its ability to immediately implement its agenda remains limited.

Philadelphia / Local News

1. “No Data Centers In Philly” Campaign

• Protesters in Philadelphia are demanding Philadelphia City Council pass a moratorium on data centers. 
• The “No Data Centers in Philly” campaign held a rally on Mon. Sept 14, to voice opposition of data centers, while expressing concern over data centers potentially being built in areas of Northeast and Southwest Philadelphia.
• Currently, Philadelphia has no rules governing how and where data centers should be built. Moratorium is temporary suspension of an activity or law. A moratorium on data centers would give the city time to impose regulations.
• Data Centers have been unpopular in the United States due to the environmental issues they cause.

Why it matters: Data centers support many of the digital services people use every day, but large facilities can require substantial amounts of electricity and water. The debate in Philadelphia could affect how future data center projects are approved and how the city balances technology development with environmental and neighborhood concerns.

Afghanistan / Diaspora News

1. Afghan permanent resident deported in first-ever case before secretive U.S. terrorism court

• Nazira Haji Zada, a 47-year-old Afghan woman and lawful permanent resident who lived in Fort Worth, Texas, has been deported to Afghanistan after agreeing to stop challenging her removal before the U.S. Alien Terrorist Removal Court.
• The Justice Department accused Haji Zada of helping conceal a failed Islamic State-inspired plan for a mass shooting on Election Day in 2024. She was not criminally charged, although her son and son-in-law pleaded guilty to charges connected to the plot.
• Her case was the first ever brought before the Alien Terrorist Removal Court, which Congress created in 1996 but which had remained unused for decades. The court allows the government to use classified evidence in deportation proceedings, meaning the person being deported and their attorneys may not be able to review some of the evidence against them.
• Haji Zada ultimately agreed to be classified as an “alien terrorist” subject to removal, and the court approved her deportation. Her attorney said that her decision to accept removal should not be interpreted as accepting the legitimacy of the court and argued that the process raises serious due-process concerns.

Why it matters:

The case is significant for Afghan immigrants because it involves a lawful permanent resident and the first use of a specialized court that can rely on classified evidence in deportation proceedings. It also raises broader legal questions about what protections noncitizens have when the government seeks removal on national-security grounds.