Afghanistan's Charlie Chaplin: Mohammad Karim Asir

© Zahir Sangar

Mohammad Karim Asir (born in 1994) is an actor and puppeteer from Afghanistan. Most people know him as the Afghan Charlie Chaplin. Asir graduated from the Faculty of Fine Arts in Theatre and has a Master's degree in Performance Arts from Kabul University. He wanted to use his theatre training to address social problems in Afghanistan. So he began a career as a Charlie Chaplin impersonator in public and private venues, including the streets of Kabul, public parks, private parties, charity events and at an orphanage. When he received a threatening letter from the Taliban about his activities in July 2021, and after the Taliban took power in August 2021, he fled to Germany and now lives in Bochum.