Honourable Chair, esteemed members of the committee and ladies and gentlemen, I stand before you today to address a matter of utmost importance: the ongoing atrocity against the Hazara community and ethnic and religious groups deeply rooted in Afghanistan.
For over a century, the Hazaras have faced unrelenting human rights violations, resulting in what can only be described as a prolonged ongoing genocide spanning 130 years. The Hazara community has faced various atrocities, including ethnic cleansing, land confiscation, and institutional subjugation. Shedding light on the denial of fundamental human rights, such as the right to life, freedom of religion, social connections, education and government employment, is crucial.
In 1978, the Hazaras gained a degree of freedom and political participation. However, the rise of the Taliban in 1994 marked the onset of a new era of oppression, characterized by heart-wrenching massacres.
Despite their suffering, the Hazaras have shown a firm commitment to peace and security. They have supported the peace process and have stood alongside the international community since 2001.
Hazaras have actively participated in the democratic process, including making significant contributions to elections since 2001. They have demonstrated resilience and dedication to education and peace, resulting in minimal violence in the region and no attack on international forces since 2001. However, with the return of the Taliban to power, Hazaras now face rapidly escalating targeted attacks, forced displacement, summary executions and mass atrocities, amounting to a systematic genocide characterized by intentional displacement and killings.
The ongoing atrocity against the Hazara community can be divided into four critical periods.
In the 1890s, under Amir Abdur Rahman Khan, the Hazaras faced devastating losses. With over 60% of their population massacred, tens of thousands were sold into slavery and a forced migration reshaped and altered our geography. Approximately 400,000 Hazara families were displaced, with 80% of them either losing their lives or becoming slaves.
During the 1990s, nearly 10 mass killings occurred, including the Afshar Kabul massacre in 1993 and the Mazar-i-Sharif massacre in 1998, resulting in thousands of Hazara casualties.
Between 2002 and 2022, the Hazara community faced 294 documented incidents of targeted violence, resulting in thousands of dead and injured. These attacks took place in various settings, from maternity wards to places of worship and schools. Additionally, Hazaras endured institutional discrimination, under-representation in government jobs and the controversial 500-kilovolt transmission line project, further contributing to their ongoing suffering.
With the return of the Taliban, hundreds of Hazaras have been killed and thousands displaced, and the number of Hazara government employees has been significantly decreased. International aid has been diverted from the region, while Hazara employment in international organizations has declined.
Recent examples include the attack on the Kaaj Educational Center in west Kabul, the systematic murder of 17 Hazara civilians in Khas Urozgan, an attack on the mosque in Pol-e-Khomri a week earlier, and the forced displacement of several hundred families in Daykundi province. Fabricated documents have been used to seize Hazaras' lands across the Hazarajat during the Pashtun Kuchi nomads' conflict with local Hazara residents. The Taliban imposed various taxes on Hazaras in the countryside, pushing them to leave their homes.
The evidence indicates that the Hazara community in Afghanistan is currently experiencing genocide, as defined by the convention, through acts like killing, deportation and forcible population transfers. It is crucial that we take immediate action to address the ongoing atrocities against the Hazara community and prevent further suffering.
Finally, on behalf of our community, I express my gratitude to this Subcommittee on International Human Rights of the House of Commons for addressing the ongoing atrocity against Hazaras. Your attention to this pressing issue is greatly appreciated.
Thank you very much.