Discrimination Towards Afghanistan’s Minorities
By Ciera DeHart
"Afghanistan is the land of Pashtuns. It always has been, always will be. We are the true Afghans, the pure Afghans, not this Flat-Nose[Hazara] here. His people pollute our homeland, our watan. They dirty our blood… Afghanistan for Pashtuns, I say. That's my vision." (Hosseini 44) In today’s Afghan society, the Pashtuns are the ruling class, making up the majority of the Afghan people (Afghanistan Overview). For them, life is abounding in opportunities, while the Hazara people wish they could only be given that chance. In addition to the disadvantage the Hazaras’ minority status creates for them, their ethnic group is comprised exclusively of Shi’a Muslims, who are far out numbered by the Sunnis in Afghanistan and the surrounding countries (Afghanistan Overview). Social discrimination affects Afghanistan’s diverse people when faced with prejudice towards minorities and religious intolerance.
Afghanistan is a nation with deep-seated religious ties, which makes rivalries between various Islamic sects all the more severe. Pashtuns are overwhelmingly Sunni and comprise 42% of the population (Massoud). As Shi’a, the Hazaras make up only 9% of the Afghan society (Afghanistan Overview). In their own country, “the Hazara have experienced discrimination at the hands of the Pashtun-dominated government throughout the history of modern Afghanistan’” (Kator-Mubarez). Since 2001, Shi’ites have been able to be more outright about their faith, but in the past the Taliban have persecuted them mercilessly (Kator-Mubarez). They have been targets of needless assaults and ridicule for years.
Assorted religious and ethnic minorities also feel the sting of being different on a constant, daily basis (Rouyee). In Afghanistan, there are estimated to be 3,000 Sikhs and 1,000 Hindus in the major cities (Afghanistan Overview). Plagued with extra costs when operating businesses and excessive license checks, Sikhs and Hindus are discriminated against at work and even when walking home (Rouyee). At school, their children are bullied and are forced to read the Quran, despite not being Muslim (Rouyee). The Hazara sense the difference as well; Amina Kator-Mubarez says, “As the traditional underclass of Afghan society, Hazara were exploited and made to work as servants and laborers.” The unskilled labors the Hazara provide result in further stigmatization for them (Kator-Mubarez). Hosseini’s novel, The Kite Runner portrays how they are rejected from society.
As stated previously, baseless prejudice and discrimination affects the numerous religious and ethnic minorities of Afghanistan. This country houses multiple, distinct people groups, but the Pashtun Sunni majority treats Hazara Shi’a Muslims with contempt. Throughout their history, the Hazara have been taken advantage of and mistreated with few advocates to speak up for them. Other religious groups, such as Hindus and Sikhs, are also treated adversely at school and work. Afghanistan is definitely not just, “the land of Pashtuns” and it’s time accommodations are made to realize that.
"Afghanistan is the land of Pashtuns. It always has been, always will be. We are the true Afghans, the pure Afghans, not this Flat-Nose[Hazara] here. His people pollute our homeland, our watan. They dirty our blood… Afghanistan for Pashtuns, I say. That's my vision." (Hosseini 44) In today’s Afghan society, the Pashtuns are the ruling class, making up the majority of the Afghan people (Afghanistan Overview). For them, life is abounding in opportunities, while the Hazara people wish they could only be given that chance. In addition to the disadvantage the Hazaras’ minority status creates for them, their ethnic group is comprised exclusively of Shi’a Muslims, who are far out numbered by the Sunnis in Afghanistan and the surrounding countries (Afghanistan Overview). Social discrimination affects Afghanistan’s diverse people when faced with prejudice towards minorities and religious intolerance.
Afghanistan is a nation with deep-seated religious ties, which makes rivalries between various Islamic sects all the more severe. Pashtuns are overwhelmingly Sunni and comprise 42% of the population (Massoud). As Shi’a, the Hazaras make up only 9% of the Afghan society (Afghanistan Overview). In their own country, “the Hazara have experienced discrimination at the hands of the Pashtun-dominated government throughout the history of modern Afghanistan’” (Kator-Mubarez). Since 2001, Shi’ites have been able to be more outright about their faith, but in the past the Taliban have persecuted them mercilessly (Kator-Mubarez). They have been targets of needless assaults and ridicule for years.
Assorted religious and ethnic minorities also feel the sting of being different on a constant, daily basis (Rouyee). In Afghanistan, there are estimated to be 3,000 Sikhs and 1,000 Hindus in the major cities (Afghanistan Overview). Plagued with extra costs when operating businesses and excessive license checks, Sikhs and Hindus are discriminated against at work and even when walking home (Rouyee). At school, their children are bullied and are forced to read the Quran, despite not being Muslim (Rouyee). The Hazara sense the difference as well; Amina Kator-Mubarez says, “As the traditional underclass of Afghan society, Hazara were exploited and made to work as servants and laborers.” The unskilled labors the Hazara provide result in further stigmatization for them (Kator-Mubarez). Hosseini’s novel, The Kite Runner portrays how they are rejected from society.
As stated previously, baseless prejudice and discrimination affects the numerous religious and ethnic minorities of Afghanistan. This country houses multiple, distinct people groups, but the Pashtun Sunni majority treats Hazara Shi’a Muslims with contempt. Throughout their history, the Hazara have been taken advantage of and mistreated with few advocates to speak up for them. Other religious groups, such as Hindus and Sikhs, are also treated adversely at school and work. Afghanistan is definitely not just, “the land of Pashtuns” and it’s time accommodations are made to realize that.