Representatives of political parties, civil and social organisations, and the Hazara community condemned ethnic and religious persecution, forced displacement, land grabbing, and violations of the rights of Hazaras and Shia Muslims in Afghanistan at a meeting.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, October 28, the organisations said the current situation of Hazaras was part of a long history of oppression against the community.
They stressed that condemning the persecution of Hazaras did not mean overlooking other human rights violations in Afghanistan. Restrictions on women and girls, the suppression of civil and political activists, and restrictions on media freedom were also among their concerns.
Hazara representatives also expressed concern over the forced displacement of people and the seizure of land and property in Kabul’s ninth and 15th districts and Jalalabad’s fourth district.
They said they did not consider the Taliban regime legitimate, arguing that seizing power through force and violence did not confer popular legitimacy on the group.
They warned the Taliban that continued discrimination, forced displacement, land grabbing, and violations of Hazaras’ rights could have serious political, social, and legal consequences, for which the Taliban would bear responsibility.
