A festival celebrating Hazara culture was held in Frankfurt, Germany, with the participation of various ethnic communities, emphasizing cultural resistance against erasure and discrimination.
The cultural event was held on Sunday, May 31, by the World Hazara Unity Center under the theme “From Historical Memory to New Horizons: A Celebration of Hazara Culture, Identity, and Solidarity.”
According to reports, the event was attended not only by Hazara community members but also by several civil society figures and cultural activists from various ethnic communities of Afghanistan, several German citizens, and representatives of Amnesty International (AI).
Speakers at the event addressed topics of culture, identity, coexistence, and the future of Afghanistan, stressing the need for critical dialogue on issues affecting the country.
Azada Sharifi, a human rights activist, emphasized the importance of recognizing ethnic diversity, legal equality, and the fair participation of all ethnic groups in Afghanistan’s political and social structures, while expressing concern over the exclusion and discrimination targeting the various cultures of the people of Afghanistan.
Fatima Alizada, a social activist and women’s rights advocate, presented in German on the culture, values, and achievements of the Hazara community, identifying education, pursuit of justice, women’s participation, and the preservation of cultural heritage as defining features of the community.
Baktash Siawash, a journalist and former member of the Afghan parliament, stated that the Hazara people, despite decades of deprivation and hardship, have managed to play a prominent role across various social, cultural, educational, and political spheres.
Referring to the valued status of women in Hazara society, he described their active presence in civic and political life as one of the community’s key strengths.
Siawash further emphasized that the achievements of the Hazara people in education, sports, and social development constitute a part of Afghanistan’s shared national pride, and that overcoming the country’s current challenges requires drawing on the capacities and participation of all ethnic groups, including the Hazara, in national processes.
At the event, Ruqia Talash, representing the World Hazara Unity Center, stressed the importance of cultural programs in introducing Hazara culture and strengthening mutual understanding among the communities of Afghanistan. She stated that supporting such programs can lay the groundwork for greater solidarity, the preservation of cultural diversity, and the expansion of constructive dialogue among Afghanistan’s various ethnic communities.
She also described the holding of such cultural festivals as a symbol of cultural resistance by the people of Afghanistan against what is taking place in the country, stressing that no government can compel people into unconditional submission.
The event featured a traditional Hazara lip dance performance, a book and photography exhibition, traditional Hazara cuisine, and live musical performances, including the dambura by Mohammad Ali Rezaei and Ibrahim Hussaini, guitar by Mohammad Hassani, and traditional dance performances.
