Assef is the main antagonist in Khaled Hosseini's novel The Kite Runner. He is a sadistic and violent bully, the son of a Pashtun father and a German mother, who believes in the racial superiority of Pashtuns over Hazaras, despite being only half Pashtun himself
. As a child, Assef terrorizes other children with his brass knuckles and idolizes Adolf Hitler, openly expressing racist and violent views
. Assef is infamous for sexually assaulting Hassan, Amir's loyal Hazara friend, after Hassan refuses to give up a kite that Amir has won in a tournament. This assault is a pivotal moment in the story, witnessed by Amir, who is too frightened to intervene, leading to deep guilt and a lasting impact on his life
. Assef's cruelty extends beyond childhood; as an adult, he becomes a Taliban official, continuing his violent and abusive behavior by holding Hassan's son, Sohrab, captive and abusing him
. In the climax of the novel, Amir confronts Assef to rescue Sohrab. During the fight, Sohrab uses a slingshot to injure Assef by gouging out his eye, allowing Amir and Sohrab to escape
. Assef symbolizes the evil and cruelty present in Afghan society and serves as the embodiment of Amir's internal and external struggles with guilt, cowardice, and redemption
. In summary, Assef is a ruthless, racist bully and Taliban official whose actions profoundly shape the trajectory of the novel and Amir's path to redemption
