🏔️ Hazara

Who Are the Hazara?

The Hazara are an ethnic group primarily inhabiting the Hazarajat region of central Afghanistan, with significant populations in Pakistan (particularly Quetta) and Iran. Numbering approximately 4-6 million in Afghanistan (roughly 10-20% of the population) and 1-2 million in Pakistan, they speak Hazaragi, a Persian dialect with Turkic and Mongolic influences. The Hazara have distinctive physical features often described as "Asiatic" or "Mongoloid," leading to persistent (though debated) theories linking them to Genghis Khan's armies. They are predominantly Shia Muslim in a predominantly Sunni country, making them doubly marked—ethnically and religiously. This has subjected them to centuries of persecution, including recent Taliban atrocities.

Origins and History

Hazara origins are debated. The dominant theory links them to Mongol soldiers left behind after Genghis Khan's 13th-century invasions, mixed with local populations. Genetic studies show significant East Asian ancestry supporting Mongol connection, though also substantial Persian and other Central Asian ancestry. The name "Hazara" may derive from Persian "hazār" (thousand)—military units of the Mongol army. Alternative theories emphasize pre-Mongol Turkic or indigenous origins. Regardless, Hazara became a distinct ethnic group in the mountains of central Afghanistan. They maintained autonomy until the late 19th century when Amir Abdur Rahman Khan conquered Hazarajat, massacring and enslaving many. This conquest established Hazara as a persecuted underclass, their lands confiscated and distributed to Pashtun settlers.

Persecution

The Hazara have faced systematic persecution. After the 1890s conquest, Hazara were enslaved, killed, displaced, and reduced to poverty. Their Shia faith marked them as heretics to Sunni extremists. Under Taliban rule (1996-2001), Hazara experienced massacres—the 1998 Mazar-i-Sharif killings by Taliban forces targeted Hazara specifically. After 2001, Hazara participated in democratic Afghanistan, achieving education and professional success, particularly women. The Taliban's 2021 return brought renewed terror—targeted killings, massacres of Hazara civilians, and systematic discrimination. In Pakistan, Hazara in Quetta face targeted sectarian violence; hundreds have been killed in bombings and shootings by extremist groups. Hazara community security requires armed escorts and fortified neighborhoods. This ongoing persecution has driven emigration—Hazara seek asylum worldwide.

Contemporary Hazara

Modern Hazara navigate between tradition and exile. In Afghanistan, despite persecution, Hazara have achieved notable education rates and professional accomplishments—ironically, discrimination pushed them toward education as the path to advancement. Hazara women were prominent in post-2001 civil society. The 2021 Taliban takeover reversed these gains; targeted violence and restrictions continue. In Pakistan, Quetta's Hazara face sectarian violence while maintaining community life. Large diaspora communities exist in Australia (especially Adelaide), Iran, Europe, and North America. Hazara activism and cultural production flourish in diaspora—music, literature, and political advocacy. The "Kite Runner" by Khaled Hosseini brought Hazara experience to global attention. Hazara identity has strengthened through persecution—shared suffering unites dispersed communities. The question of whether Hazara can survive in Afghanistan under Taliban rule remains unanswered.

References

• Mousavi, S. A. (1998). The Hazaras of Afghanistan: An Historical, Cultural, Economic and Political Study
• Ibrahimi, N. (2017). The Hazaras and the Afghan State: Rebellion, Exclusion and the Struggle for Recognition
• Monsutti, A. (2005). War and Migration: Social Networks and Economic Strategies of the Hazaras of Afghanistan