Afghan citizens in over 30 cities worldwide have marched to officially recognize and protest the “Hazara genocide” and the arrest of women and girls by the Taliban. Protesters have called on the United Nations, countries, and human rights organizations to acknowledge and halt the “Hazara genocide” and prevent the persecution of women and girls under the pretext of non-compliance with the Taliban’s imposed “veiling.” The demonstrators claim that a recent wave of targeted and systematic attacks has commenced in Hazara-populated areas in Afghanistan. Concurrently, these protesters have criticized the ongoing detention of women in specific areas by the Taliban and urged the global community to address this issue seriously. Meanwhile, the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) has stated in its latest report that women and girls, primarily in Hazara and Tajik-inhabited areas, are being arrested by the Taliban under the pretext of violating the group’s imposed veil. The report also notes that the Taliban continues its prohibitions and restrictions against women, seeking revenge against former military personnel, human rights defenders, and media personnel. UNAMA further emphasizes that targeted attacks against Hazaras and Shiites persist.
Thousands of Afghan citizens worldwide have staged protests for the past two days in over 30 cities, calling for the recognition and cessation of the “Hazara genocide.” Protesters claim that a fresh wave of targeted and systematic attacks has reignited in Hazara-populated areas in Afghanistan.
Thousands of demonstrators in various cities worldwide, including the United States, Canada, Germany, France, Britain, Pakistan, and other countries with Afghan communities, have demanded a halt to and recognition of the “Hazara genocide and gender apartheid” in Afghanistan.
Protesters allege that the “Hazara genocide” has persisted for decades in Afghanistan and has taken on a renewed intensity with the return of the Taliban to power. According to them, the Taliban have systematically and repeatedly subjected this ethnic group to discrimination, providing a conducive environment for their targeted elimination.
Protesters around the world have raised slogans such as “Stop the Hazara Genocide” and “No to the Taliban regime.” Simultaneously, some demonstrators, in response to widespread protests, have called for the continuation of protests within a legal framework. They argue that the Taliban’s treatment of citizens of Afghanistan, especially Hazaras and women, constitutes a clear example of “crimes against humanity, genocide, and gender apartheid” that should be pursued through legal mechanisms in the international system.
Asef Ashna, a political activist and one of the protesters in the United States, wrote on his X (formerly Twitter ) account: “If the path does not continue within a legal framework, it has gone astray. What the Taliban are implementing against us is a crime against humanity. In a legal context, the behavior and actions of the Taliban constitute war crimes. It is a crime against humanity. It is genocide against the Hazaras. We must resort to legal mechanisms against the Taliban.”
However, Mirza Rafat, an expert in legal affairs, speaking to the Hasht-e Subh Daily, states that the Hazaras have been systematically discriminated against, oppressed, and subjected to genocide throughout Afghanistan’s history. According to him, the global litigation initiated by the Hazaras for the recognition and cessation of the “Hazara genocide” is a fundamental right for any group in the world.
This legal expert adds that the global litigation aims to draw the attention of human rights organizations and the international community, which, according to global human rights documents, are obligated to protect and support the Hazaras who are facing genocide and discrimination.
Mr. Rafat emphasizes that global litigation for justice is one of the crucial and useful tools for those who are systematically discriminated against and selectively targeted based on ethnicity, belief, and gender. However, he believes that in the current situation, it is unlikely that the “Hazara genocide” will be recognized because it imposes significant obligations on countries that acknowledge it, and they are carefully and seriously pursuing this matter.
Meanwhile, the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) has recently reported on the human rights situation in Afghanistan, stating that targeted attacks against the Hazaras continue.
According to UNAMA’s three-month report, deliberate attacks against the Hazaras, mainly a Shia community, persist in Afghanistan. The report highlights three attacks resulting from planted mines in October and November of the previous year, targeting “Hazaras – primarily Shia members of the community.” UNAMA states that on October 13th of the past year, a suicide bomber detonated in a mosque in Pol-e-Khomri city, Baghlan province, among Shia worshippers, leaving 21 dead and 30 injured. Additionally, in two other incidents in the Dasht-e Barchi area, west of Kabul, 21 people were killed, and 56 others were wounded.
UNAMA adds to the report that a “series of targeted massacres of Shia religious scholars” occurred in the Jebreyal region of Herat city. According to UNAMA, no group has claimed responsibility for these attacks, and the perpetrators remain unidentified.
Furthermore, UNAMA emphasizes that the Taliban have detained “women and girls, mainly in western Kabul/Dasht-e Barchi area, Hazara-inhabited areas, and some in Khairkhana, predominantly inhabited by Tajik ethnicities and residents of Panjshir province.”
UNAMA, in its three-month report on the human rights situation in Afghanistan, states that the Taliban continue to “impose and declare restrictions on women’s rights to work, education, and freedom of movement.”
The report notes that the Taliban’s Ministry for Propagation of Virtue and Prevention of Vice at the provincial level plays an executive role in ensuring the compliance of women with the imposed requirements, including “veiling, observing Muharram, and other obligations,” by monitoring public places, offices, educational institutions, and establishing checkpoints.
UNAMA highlights that there is no applicable legal framework for “addressing complaints of gender-based violence against women and girls in Afghanistan,” including identifying which of the Taliban’s judicial institutions is responsible for handling such complaints.
The report specifies that many victims, due to fear of the Taliban authorities, prefer seeking dispute resolution through traditional mechanisms. According to UNAMA, complaints referred to Taliban’s “law enforcement and justice institutions” are predominantly handled by men.
UNAMA, in its report, adds that the executive activities of the Taliban’s Ministry for Propagation of Virtue and Prevention of Vice involve arbitrary arrests and detentions. The organization continues to investigate claims of misconduct, prolonged detentions and demands for payment in exchange for the release of women and girls by the Taliban.
The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan, regarding the arrests of women and girls under the pretext of not adhering to the Taliban’s prescribed dress code, states: “These enforcement actions, coupled with physical violence, especially against Afghan women and girls, are demeaning and dangerous, exposing them to increased risks.”
UNAMA specifies in this report that the detention of women for not adhering to the Taliban’s prescribed dress code is even in contradiction with the Taliban’s issued orders. The “Hijab Decree” of the Taliban is explained in detail in the report.
UNAMA emphasizes that the Taliban have continued with the arrest, torture, and killing of military personnel and officials of the previous government. This organization adds: “Incidents of extrajudicial killings, arbitrary arrests, self-imposed detentions, torture, and mistreatment of officials of the former government and members of the Afghan security and defense forces persist.”
The report states that despite the declaration of general amnesty, military and civilian personnel of the previous government are being killed and subjected to harassment and abuse.
UNAMA has reported continued arbitrary arrests, and punishment of human rights defenders, and media personnel. The report mentions that, in the past two months of the last year, four women’s rights activists have been detained by the Taliban’s intelligence department, with one of them is still held in a Taliban prison.
According to the report, Taliban intelligence in Daikundi province arrested three Radio Nasim employees on charges of preparing a report on the misuse of humanitarian aid by the group. Two of them have been released, while another has been sentenced to one year in prison on charges of activities against the group.
UNAMA’s report was released amidst prior warnings from the Taliban, cautioning the United Nations not to publish its reports without the group’s permission. The acting head of the Ministry for Propagation of Virtue and Prevention of Vice of the Taliban had issued a threatening warning to the United Nations, insisting that they share their reports with the group before publication.
Recently, Zabihullah Mujahid, the Taliban spokesperson, also suggested that UNAMA refrain from criticizing “unjustly about the religious matters and values of the people of Afghanistan.”
The Taliban spokesperson has also accused the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan of “ignorance of Islamic rulings.” UNAMA has remained silent regarding the Taliban’s warnings and has shown no response so far.