The following statement was provided by an Afghan combat linguist who was summarily fired after failing a lie detector "test." As a consequence, he has been denied a Special Immigrant Visa. He is currently in hiding in Afghanistan, and his lie detector failure could end up being a death sentence for him and his family. If you are in a position to assist, please contact AntiPolygraph.org.

Polygraph Statement of Rahim

23 May 2022


From 2007-2010, I worked as a combat interpreter for the United States Army in Afghanistan. My real name is Mohammad, but the American soldiers with whom I worked called me Rahim.

From 2007 to 2008, I worked with the U.S. Army 3rd and 7th Special Forces Groups at Camp Vance, near Bagram Airfield. Soldiers I worked under included MAJ J. Cliff Keller and 1SGT John J. Melton of the 3rd SFG and CPT Sheffield F. Ford III and 1SGT David L. Tope, Jr. of the 7th SFG.

From 2009 to 2010 at Forward Operating Base (FOB) Airborne in Maidan Wardak Province, I worked under soldiers including MAJ Mathew Rowell and CSM Brian Lambert of the 118th Military Police (MP) Company and Sergeants Schmidt, Mobley, Mathew, Watkins, Vinyard, and Mayers of the 401st MP Company.

During my employment as a combat interpreter, I also met and was trusted to work with senior commanders including Generals Stanley A. McChrystal, Michael T. Flynn, and William C. Mayville, Jr.

Me with Gen. McChrystal



Me (center) with Gen. Flynn


Another snapshot of me with Gen. Flynn


Me with Gen. Mayville

I also received numerous certificates of appreciation from the units with which I served.

Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force-Afghanistan


Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force-Afghanistan


3rd Special Forces Group


4th Battalion, 25th Field Artillery Regiment


118th Military Police Company (Airborne)



118th MP Co. with Afghan National Army above the Jalrez Valley, Wardak Province


401st MP Co. at Combat Outpost Garda in Wardak Province

On 5 September 2010, at FOB Airborne, I was invited to take a polygraph test. I had previously passed polygraphs three times at Bagram Airfield.

This time, I was tested using a handheld lie detector that I now know is called the Preliminary Credibility Assessment Screening System (PCASS). As before, I was asked several questions, all of which were to be answered "yes" or "no." And as before, I answered all questions truthfully.

The PCASS operator commented that my leg was moving. I told him that I have a twitch in my leg, like an eye twitch. He replied, "You are afraid." Then he said it was over, and I should go.

Although the National Center for Credibility Assessment, which developed the PCASS, has stated that this device is "only for initial screening" and that "[g]enerally, adverse results should be followed up with other methods," this didn't happen in my case.

An hour later, my team's captain came and told me, "You can no longer work with us."

I was expelled from the camp, and the contractor I worked for, Mission Essential Personnel, did not pay my salary for the last five days of work.

Later, in 2017, I applied for a United States Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) and was rejected. I learned that my HR letter had "terminated" written on it, and that for this reason, my case was rejected.

I asked what things were necessary in order to appeal the SIV rejection. They said I needed a letter from the CIA detailing why I failed the lie detector.

Now, the Taliban are looking for me, and I and my family are in hiding. Please help us.