The Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA) urgently calls for coordinated international action to protect the Shia and Hazara communities in Afghanistan. In their statement, the organization highlights that the Afghan Shia, primarily comprising Hazaras, face systematic discrimination, targeted attacks, marginalization, harassment, and severe restrictions under the Taliban’s rule. The report reveals that the Taliban has banned religious freedom and beliefs for Shia and Hazaras, and is responsible for forced displacements, enforced disappearances of Hazara Shias, withholding of humanitarian aid, arbitrary detentions, and extrajudicial killings of civilians across Afghanistan. Additionally, FORUM-ASIA accuses the Taliban of compelling members of the Ismaili Shia community in Badakhshan province to convert to Sunni Islam to receive humanitarian assistance. The report also documents the group’s attacks on Shia mourners during Muharram, resulting in casualties and injuries. The organization’s statement strongly emphasizes the grave concern over the widespread and systematic violations of the human rights of Afghanistan’s Shia community, particularly Hazara Shias, who are facing a serious risk of “Slow Genocide.”
FORUM-ASIA strongly expresses concern over the Taliban’s systematic removal and widespread violation of religious freedom for Shias in Afghanistan. The organization states that Shias, particularly Hazara Shias in the country, are facing systematic discrimination, targeted attacks, harassment, and severe religious restrictions, leading to their marginalization.
In a recent statement, the Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA) stated that the Taliban has prohibited religious and ideological freedom for Shiites, predominantly Hazaras. According to the statement, the Taliban has been responsible for forced displacements and disappearances of Hazara Shia individuals over the past two years, and they have deprived them of receiving humanitarian aid. FORUM-ASIA has also accused the group of continuing arbitrary detentions and extrajudicial killings of civilians throughout Afghanistan. The distribution of humanitarian aid to people in Hazara-inhabited areas through the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has been hindered due to the Taliban’s intervention, as mentioned in the statement.
Furthermore, the Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development has expressed concerns about the Taliban’s widespread violation of religious freedom for Shiites and other religious minorities. The group reportedly forced Ismaili Shia members in Badakhshan province to convert to Sunni Islam to receive humanitarian aid. A recently circulated video in the media showed Taliban members conducting a ceremony to change the religion of a man from Ismaili Shia to the Sunni sect of Islam in the Ashkashim district of Badakhshan province. Such formal ceremonies for religious conversion have been uncommon in Afghanistan, leading to extensive reactions. Some citizens of the country argue that Ismaili Shia is one of the Islamic sects, and they consider forcing them to recite the declaration of faith as an insult to followers of this Islamic sect.
Based on the videos published in the media, a Taliban official in the Ashkashim district is seen forcefully persuading an individual to change his religion. The official states, “The door of Islam is open to everyone. Anyone can embrace this religion.” The individual, apparently being encouraged to convert to Sunni Islam, is asked, “Who introduced you to the benefits of Islam?” He mentions the name of one of the Taliban members in response. In one of the video clips from the religious conversion ceremony, a Taliban member is seen whispering in the person’s ear, and then the individual repeats the Taliban’s words.
The Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development states that the Taliban has recently issued orders banning the organization and holding of Muharram ceremonies for Hazara Shia communities across the country. The organization accuses the Taliban of attacking mourning processions, resulting in the deaths and injuries of Shia civilians. The statement further alleges that the Taliban disrupts internet access in Shia-inhabited areas and suppresses the Shia population through their attacks.
According to the report, Hazara Shia Muslims in Afghanistan have historically faced persecution as a religious minority by the Afghan governments. The report highlights that Shiites have experienced harassment and persecution from terrorist groups like the Taliban, ISIS, and other non-state actors. The Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development warns that Hazara Shias are currently at serious risk of “slow genocide.” Since the Taliban’s reemergence in Afghanistan, at least 700 Hazara civilians have been killed or injured in 13 targeted attacks linked to the ISIS group, as mentioned in the report.
The Asian human rights organization highlights that several international human rights groups and monitoring bodies express grave concern about the increasing attacks against Hazara Shia Muslims and have raised the alarm about the potential for genocide.
In their statement, the organization notes that the Taliban have revoked all legal mechanisms to protect human rights and uphold the rule of law in Afghanistan. The Taliban reportedly abolished legal provisions and national events specific to Hazara Shia Muslims, exposing them to further persecution. The report highlights some of the measures the Taliban took, such as removing the Personal Status Law for Shia Muslims, banning the teaching of Jafari jurisprudence, erasing Ashura from the calendar, and imposing restrictions on Muharram ceremonies, which pose additional risks and harassment for Hazara Shias.
Citing a report from the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum (USHMM), the Asian Forum for Human Rights states that the Taliban’s military operations until July 2022 have displaced over 25,000 people, mainly Hazaras, from their ancestral lands.
The organization adds that since returning to power, the Taliban have systematically attacked ethnic and religious groups, including Hazara Shiites, Tajiks, and Uzbeks. The statement explains that currently, Sufis, Sikhs, and Hindus fear persecution by the Taliban and ISIS.
In their statement, the Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development calls on the Taliban to immediately lift the imposed restrictions on the fundamental rights of the Afghan people, especially women, girls, and ethnic and religious groups. The organization urges the Taliban to grant Afghan citizens freedom of expression, access to education, information, work, travel, and peaceful gatherings, and to respect Afghanistan’s international commitments to safeguard fundamental rights and freedoms. The statement emphasizes that the group should adopt policies to preserve religious diversity and protect marginalized groups, especially women, girls, Hazara Shiites, Sikhs, Hindus, and Sufis.
The organization urged international stakeholders to establish an international mechanism for investigation and accountability, through the UN Human Rights Council, to collect, preserve, and document evidence of all human rights violations in Afghanistan.
According to the statement, the organization also requests the international community to raise awareness about the ongoing persecution of Hazara Shiites and other marginalized groups in Afghanistan. They urgently demand an end to the systematic attacks against Hazara Shiites, which show signs of genocide.
Furthermore, the organization advocates for the protection of vulnerable ethnic and religious communities and urges practical protective measures, such as providing humanitarian visas and opportunities for resettlement for persecuted groups and ensuring fair distribution of humanitarian aid to those in need, including marginalized religious and ethnic groups.
FORUM-ASIA, a network of 85 organizations in 23 countries primarily active in Asia, was founded in 1991 with the main objective of strengthening human rights and sustainable development movements through research, support, capacity building, and solidarity actions in Asia and beyond. It holds consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) and has consultative relations with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights. The Secretariat of FORUM-ASIA is based in Bangkok, the capital of Thailand, with other offices in Jakarta, the capital of Indonesia, Geneva, Switzerland, and Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal.
The Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA) has expressed concern over the human rights situation of religious minorities, a concern shared by other international bodies regarding religious and ethnic minorities. Last year, Human Rights Watch reported multiple deadly attacks carried out against Hazaras and religious minorities during the Taliban’s rule. Reports indicate that religious minorities in Afghanistan are constantly at risk of persecution and suppression due to political changes. Sikh and Hindu minorities in the country face such a severe threat that they are leaving Afghanistan altogether. Despite the Taliban’s promises to protect ethnic and religious minorities upon entering Kabul, they have not taken any concrete actions to ensure the safety of these religious minority groups during their two-year rule.
