SR 65

SR65:v98#DOCUMENT

Bill Start

CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2025–2026 REGULAR SESSION

Senate Resolution

No. 65

Relative to the Mohammed Kahn.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST

SR 65, Wahab.

Digest Key

Bill Text

WHEREAS, Private Mohammed Kahn, raised in Afghanistan, immigrated to the United States in the mid-19th century and enlisted in the Union Army on August 2, 1861, serving in Company E of the 43rd New York Volunteer Infantry Regiment during the American Civil War; and

WHEREAS, Private Kahn was one of approximately 250 Muslim soldiers who fought in the Civil War, and among only two known Muslim veterans to receive a federal pension for their service, marking an extraordinary achievement in a time when immigrants and religious minorities faced systemic barriers to recognition; and

WHEREAS, Despite being an Afghan Muslim in a divided nation, Private Kahn fought with valor in key campaigns, including the Battle of Malvern Hill, where he was struck in the face with a musket; the Battle of Spotsylvania, where he sustained a gunshot wound; and Sailor’s Creek, where harsh conditions left him afflicted with lifelong rheumatism; and

WHEREAS, Due to his inability to speak English when enlisting, Kahn was misidentified by the enrolling officer and recorded as a Blackfoot Indian, reflecting both the prejudice and misunderstanding faced by immigrant soldiers of color during that era; and

WHEREAS, Kahn endured further hardship when, while on detached duty, he was mistakenly arrested as a formerly enslaved person, detained in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, and forced into servitude before finally rejoining his regiment, demonstrating his resilience and determination to fulfill his duty; and

WHEREAS, Following the war, he persistently sought recognition of his injuries and sacrifices, ultimately securing a pension after years of testimony from fellow soldiers, physicians, and community members, ensuring that his service was rightfully honored; and

WHEREAS, The life of Mohammed Kahn exemplifies the deep roots of the Afghan American Community in the United States, long before the establishment of formal immigration pathways, and underscores the contributions of Muslim Americans in the nation’s earliest struggles for freedom and unity; and

WHEREAS, Mohammed Kahn’s story serves as an enduring reminder that America’s strength has always depended upon the courage and contributions of immigrants, people who, like Private Kahn, risked everything to defend the promise of liberty and equality even when those same principles were not equally extended to them; now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the Senate of the State of California, That the Senate hereby honors and commemorates Private Mohammed Kahn, Afghan American, Muslim, and Union soldier, for his extraordinary bravery, sacrifice, and service to the United States during the Civil War; and be it further

Resolved, That the Senate recognizes his legacy as both a pioneer of Afghan American history and an early representative of Muslim American military service, affirming the lasting importance of immigrant contributions to the fabric of this nation; and be it further

Resolved, That the Secretary of the Senate transmit copies of this resolution to the author for distribution to Afghan American cultural organizations, Muslim American institutions, and Civil War historical societies to preserve and share his story for future generations.