Emma's Torch in MoCo360

Family flees Afghanistan, makes Montgomery County home

Pretty much every item in the modest Silver Spring apartment Baktash Amini shares with his wife, Maryam, and their two young kids has been donated: the table and chairs, sofas, bedroom furniture, even the television hanging from the wall. One notable exception: a white toddler-size Bentley sports car covered in stickers that sits on the floor next to one of the sofas.

Maryam found it by the apartment complex's trash dumpster and carried it up the two flights of stairs to their apartment. She knew their 3-year-old son, Mehran, would be pleased. "I say [to Mehran], 'I buy for you,' " she explains in broken English.

Three years ago, Baktash was a bit of a celebrity in the couple's home country of Afghanistan. An on-air music and television presenter with Radio Free Europe, he had a loyal following and a generous salary. His brother was a well-known Afghan television news anchor; Maryam was a stay-at-home mom to Mehran and his sister, Marwa. Baktash's parents and all five of his sisters were teachers-his mom taught at a nearby school for girls… Read more