The current predicament of ethnic and religious minorities in Afghanistan and Pakistan is a cause of grave concern, and it is essential for the international community to be aware of multiple complexities and rivalries in the region. For this article I partnered with an ethnic Hazara human rights activist and Chinese-educated medical doctor, M. Saleem Javed, based in Quetta, Pakistan to provide a brief history of this threatened community and to document the challenges they are currently facing.

Origin and Identity

Central Asia has been the crossroads of ethnicities for millennia as exemplified by the diversity of languages and other cultural expressions in this region. The West has been exposed to these narratives in the past decade unfortunately through the lens of conflict in Afghanistan. As NATO forces withdraw from the region, the plight of indigenous minorities deserves greater attention and scrutiny. Perhaps the most vulnerable of these minority groups are the Hazara people. Phenotypically, the Hazara have distinct similarities to Mongols and there may have been an ethnic connection as evident from the etymology of many Hazara names. There was likely widespread intermarriage when the Mongols invaded South-central Asia in the twelfth and the preexisting descendants of the Indo-Hephthalite Kushan Buddhist empire as well as subsequent Persian settlers.

A Chinese traveler, Tauchaun, wrote about people similar to Chinese in Hazarajat called ‘Hosalo’ in June 644 A.D. Since the Chinese alphabet does not have an ‘R,’ this reference could have been ‘Hozora’ or Hazara’. The proximate etymology of the word is derived from the Persian word for a ‘thousand’ (Hazar) which may be a reference to a military contingent. During the various conquests of the times perhaps this syncretic identity emerged beyond the battlefields. Now more than 5 million people consider themselves to be Hazara, a vast majority of whom live in Afghanistan (constituting at least 20% of the country’s population), followed by around a million in Pakistan. In Iran, there is a sizeable population of Hazara but they are intermingled with the Khawari ethnic group and a definitive census is hard to determine. The largest Hazara diaspora abroad is in Australia, which has been welcoming of Afghan immigration due to old ties of Afghan workers during British colonial times (even now one of Australia’s major train lines is called “The Ghan” in respect of this legacy).

Marginalization and Conquest

Discrimination towards the Hazara was poignantly portrayed by Afghan-American writer Khaled Hosseini in his epic novel The Kite Runner. The roots of persecution towards the Hazara are largely related to sectarian rifts within Islam – the dominant religion in the region. Though a comprehensive census eludes us, it is fair to say that a vast majority of Hazara are Shia (believing in twelve imams) with small Sunni and Ismaili minorities as well. While a majority of Pashtuns are Sunnis, there are also several Shia groups within Pashtun ranks, particularly among the Orakzai tribes. As documented in Sana Haroon’s book Frontier of Faith, there were several episodes of anti-Shia movements during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Most notable among these was the one led by Mullah Mahmud Akhunzada against the Shias of Orakzai which led to a bloody confrontation and expulsion of many Shias in 1929. The British supported the Shia at the time as a persecuted minority, though tribal leaders (particularly the Afridis) were highly suspicious of British intentions and tried to prevent their intervention by mobilizing their own dispute resolution system with the mullahs.

The inhabitants of Hazarajat in the central highlands of Afghanistan, were semi-independent until Amir Abdul Rahman, the King of Afghanistan, invaded their homeland in the late nineteenth century with the help of Sunni clergymen who declared Jihad (religious decree) against the Hazara Shias. According Afghan historian Mir Ghulam Mohammad Ghubar The Amir’s army and tribal militiamen massacred almost 60% of the Hazaras, confiscated much of their fertile land and enslaved many others. Many of them sought refuge in Quetta Pakistan and Iran’s Mashhed at that time leading to current populations in these areas. The remaining population has faced persecution and social discrimination at the hands of Afghan rulers ever since then.

Similar dynamics of dissent and conflict with foreign forces in the region appear to be playing out almost a century later. In March 1979 the Hazara launched a major offensive against the communist Afghan government and claimed their homeland (Hazarajat) in just a few months. However, in the 1980 various Hazara factions were engaged in a civil war while trying to establish domination over Hazarajat which ended in 1988 under the platform of the Hizb-e-Wahdat.

Taliban terror and its aftermath

Following the Russo-Afghan war and the subsequent Afghan civil war, the Taliban toke over Kabul in 1996 which marked the beginning of another wave of persecution and repression against the Hazara. From 1998 to 2002 thousands of Hazaras were massacred by Taliban in Mazar-e-Sharif (1998) , Rotak Pass (2000), Bamiyan (1998 -1999) , Yakao lang (January 2001) and other places of Afghanistan. Human Rights Watch (HRW) has documented through archived sources the massacre of thousands of Hazara Shias by Taliban forces during these years. Mullah Manan Niazi, the Taliban governor of Mazar-e-Sharif, had issued a Fatwa that ‘Hazaras are not Muslim, killing them is not a sin’. While the Taliban did make some tentative alliances with a few Hazara, it is widely believed that it was an official policy of the Taliban to marginalize the Hazara, confiscate their lands and force them into exile, particularly in Iran.

Termination of the Taliban government was wholeheartedly welcomed by the Hazaras and other ethnic and religious minorities in Afghanistan. The situation greatly improved as compared to Taliban times as the Afghan constitution gave fundamental protection to persecuted minorities, including the Hazara. However, minority communities continued to have grievances even under Hamid Karzai’s democratic government and violence continued. In 2004, 16 Hazaras were pulled from their vehicle by Taliban forces in south-central Afghanistan and executed. Hundreds of them have been massacred by Kochi nomads—who are presumptively allied with Taliban — in Behsud since 2007. Afghanistan’s Independent Human Rights Commission has produced a report on the dreadful series of incidents in this region.

Quo vadis NATO?

After ten years of the presence of US led NATO forces and at the eve of their withdrawal, there are ominous signs of a return to wider persecution of the Hazara Shias. On December 7, 2011 more than 70 Shias, mostly Hazaras, were killed in simultaneous suicide attacks on the tenth day of Moharram in Kabul and Mazar e Sharif. These attacks were ambiguously claimed and then denied by Lashkar-e-Jhangvi-al-Alami, a Pakistan based Taliban affiliate, with historic ties to Pakistani intelligence services that have operated under the despicable doctrine of “strategic depth” (exerting influence through destabilization of Afghanistan in order to gain leverage with their arch-rival India).

Pakistani Hazara diaspora protesting in Oslo Norway, Photo by Penny Thew, creative commons license

Similar attacks have taken place against the Hazara Shias of Pakistan since 1999 in which more than 700 innocent people have lost their lives along with hundreds injured and maimed. Two of the worst attacks which shocked the world were when 29 Hazara passengers were taken off a bus, made to stand in line and executed one by one in Mastung on 20 September 2011. Another 13 were executed after being identified as Hazaras Shias in Akhtarabad, Quetta, on Oct 04, 2011. The responsibility of almost all such attacks/targeted killings have been claimed by Lashkar e Jhangvi. A few weeks before the massacre, this banned terrorist outfit had circulated an open letter addressed to Hazaras in Quetta reading: “All Shi’ites are worthy of killing. We will rid Pakistan of unclean people….”

London-based Minority Rights Group (MRG) has identified the Hazara as the ‘most under threat minorty group’ in Afghanistan. The Hazara, both in Afghanistan and Pakistan, have been persecuted because of their religious and/or ethnic heritage and are particularly fearful of the peace talks with Taliban that are being brokered by Qatar. These talks may lead to the release of a particularly ruthless anti-Hazara Taliban commander and former deputy defense minister in their regime, Mullah Muhammad Fazl from Guantanamo Bay, who is known for his pernicious attacks on Shias.

For peace to prevail in Afghanistan and Pakistan, assuring security of the Hazara minority is essential. The United States and all interested states must not compromise on the security of this persecuted minority population in their peace talks. The Hazara constitute a vital indigenous culture that has survived for centuries and is threatened. While all groups must try to promote sectarian harmony internally, the responsibility of protecting the fundamental human rights of the Hazara remains with the Afghan and Pakistani states and their allies who purport to support peaceful pluralism.

http://newswatch.nationalgeographic.com/2012/01/16/hazara_afghanistan_pakistan/

Monday, December 13, 2011 – Ismailis in Afghanistan on the occasion of 75th birth day of His Highness Prince Karim Aga Khan, the 49th Imam (spiritual leader) organized gatherings in Afghanistan.

The Aga Khan council for Afghanistan organized the event in capital Kabul which was attended by a number of high level Afghan governmental officials and guests.

Sayed Shah Nasir Rahnuma, presidential adviser and Sayed Makhdom Raheen were among the participants.

Prince Karim Aga Khan IV was born on 13 December 1936 and is the 49th and current Imam of the Shia Imami Nizari Ismaili Muslims.He became the 49th spritual leader of the world Ismailis on July 11, 1957 at the age of 20, succeeding his grandfather, Sultan Mohamamd Shah (Aga Khan III).

Prince Karim Aga Khan is one of the significant donors for Afghanistan reconstruction. The Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) launched operations in different sectors after the fall of Taliban in 2001.

AKDN has been actively engaged in the reconstruction of Afghan historical sites, reconstruction of health clinics, provision of educational services, construction of roads and bridges since 2001 in Afghanistan.

Last year, the Ismaili Walk raised over $300,000, and has now raised over $3.8M since inception. The 20^thAnnual Ismaili Walk featured a full day of live entertainment, delicious heart-healthy meals, and activities for the whole family. Healthy Families BC was one of many proud supporters of this year’s record-setting Walk.

For more information visit www.healthyfamiliesbc.ca.

Princess Zahra Aga Khan accepted the Ashden Sustainable Energy Award on behalf of the Aga Khan Planning and Building Service (AKPBS) at a VIP ceremony here at the Royal Geographical Society.

Greg Barker MP praised the work of AKPBS in Pakistan for working with “vulnerable people”. He told The News there is a lot that can be learnt from the relatively simple but “innovative ways” used by the organisations to change the lives of the local people. He said the local and simple techniques were being helpful in switching to a sustainable lifestyle.

He said the UK government was “keen to support such initiatives. He said the politicians internationally have yet to come together to find solutions of energy and climate change yet the local NGOs, whether in Pakistan or elsewhere, were taking a lead in bringing people together, encouraging local communities to be part of the solution. “They are empowering people and not waiting for the solutions to be given to them to help form resource-sufficient and prosperous economies.”

Princess Zahra Aga Khan told The News that they were working to help lift thousands of families out of the vicious cycle of poverty through simple and efficient use of simple technology in high mountain areas.

She explained that the organization has nearly 70 products in building and construction programme, from smoke-free stove to, making insulated walls and water production locally as well teaching communities on the use of the new technologies. The princess said the team in Pakistan had done a fantastic work to deserve this award.

Sarah Butler-Sloss, founder Director of the Ashden Awards and chair of the judging panel told that the initiatives of AKPBS are exemplary because “they are bringing enterprise and solutions of environment, energy and poverty in a vulnerable and important part of Pakistan.

We are delighted by the work they do as they show it is possible to improve the lives of thousands of families and successfully tackle the major challenges of deforestation and climate change.

They are inspiring and their techniques are replicable”. The Aga Khan Planning and Building Service in Pakistan (AKPBS) was awarded £20,000 for helping families in remote mountain villages save energy and enjoy warmer and more comfortable homes by installing a range of energy-efficient products.

Source: http://www.thenews.com.pk/TodaysPrintDetail.aspx?ID=53246&Cat=2&dt=6/18/2011

Families, corporate teams among those who take stroll through Stanley Park to fight poverty in developing nations

The World Partnership Walk, held under sunny skies in Stanley Park on Sunday, raised more than $2 million to help fight poverty in developing countries, organizers said.

The walk benefits global development projects supported by the Aga Khan Foundation Canada.

What began in Vancouver in 1980 as a fundraiser and celebration of giving for Vancouver’s Ismaili community has become a national event with walks in Toronto and Victoria on the same day, and walks in other Canadian cities later this month.

“What makes the walk unique,” said representative Karim Salemohammed, “is that it is underwritten by the Aga Khan foundation, and 100 per cent of all funds raised goes to projects around the world.”

Walkers, including families and corporate teams, took advantage of the sunny day to walk five kilometres through Stanley Park before joining festivities that included bhangra and other musical performances at Lumbermen’s Arch.

They also had a chance to taste some Ismaili specialties, including sugar cane juice, fresh-cut young coconut, tamarind seeds and traditional barbecue.

The Aga Kahn Foundation Canada is a non-denominational registered charity dedicated to finding solutions to global poverty through grassroots projects focusing on education, sanitation, clean water and rural economic ventures in some of the world’s poorest countries.

“The walk is really all Canadians saying we care about the world. We can do something locally and make a difference globally,” said Salemohammed.

Jameel Dawood, a volunteer at the walk’s global village tent, said what he finds most exciting about working with AKF Canada is the partnership with the Canadian International Development Agency, which meets every dollar raised with a corresponding amount of $8 or $9.

“Just $10 can educate a child in a developing country for a year,” he said.

“Most projects we support start at a grassroots level and use a sandwich approach, bringing research and development and best practices to communities at a grassroots level.”

Funds raised through the annual walk and other Aga Khan Foundation events and partnerships go to communities in countries such as Afghanistan, Tajikistan, Pakistan, Mozambique and Kenya.

Since 1980, the event has raised more than $60 million.

Source: http://www.vancouversun.com/business/World+Partnership+Walk+garners+
more+than+million+world+poor/4859688/story.html#ixzz1NsiTDEUc

While preserving the dying qawwali tradition, the Trust hopes to simultaneously create spaces in the Nizamuddin Basti, like the Chaunsath Khamba, the Central Park opposite the MCD school and the Dargah, where regular performances can take place. As part of a cultural revival initiative called the ‘Aalam-e-Khusrau’, co-funded by the Ford Foundation, the Trust is facilitating public performances, discussions, research, archiving and documenting, research fellowships, scholarship programmes and multimedia exhibitions on Khusrau.

Since its beginning in the 13th-14th Century by the Sufi Saint Hazrat Nizamuddin Auliya in Ghiyaspur, qawwali is said to have been adapted in many situations and variations, but all of them display the distinct musical style and structure of the present-day qawwali. Amir Khusrau, the most beloved disciple of Hazrat Nizamuddin Auliya, supposedly created this style of music as a form of veneration.

Scholars, however, say the tradition is now dying out. Children in qawwal families are found to carry the tradition forward, but without any formal knowledge of music. To train them, AKTC is now in the process of hand-picking children from these families from the Nizamuddin Basti, Chitli Qabar in Old Delhi and Fatehpur Sikri. They will be sent to maestros in classical music for formal training.

Last year, the ‘Jashn-e-Khusrau’ programme included khanaqahi qawwali performances, poetry-reading, lectures and discussions on qawwali and Amir Khusrau, exhibitions depicting the world of Dargah Hazrat Nizamuddin and the Basti area urban renewal projects, as well as heritage walks through the settlement of the Hazrat Nizamuddin Basti.

A similar programme is being planned for 2012, when a travelling exhibition-cum-workshop will also travel to UP, Rajasthan, Punjab, and Jammu-Kashmir, where the AKTC is documenting and archiving the existing qawwali traditions.

The AKTC has also put forth a suggestion to the Ministry of Culture to set up an Amir Khusrau Resource Centre that can house books, manuscripts, illustrations, recordings and artifacts pertaining to Khusrau’s legacy.

The AKTC has proposed that the centre be located in the Nizamuddin area, while regular events can be organised at central locations like the India International Centre and monuments such as Chaunsath Khamba that will create an interface between performers and scholars to ensure that Khusrau’s legacy is carried on.

“Qawwali traditions initiated by Hazrat Amir Khusrau here in the Nizamuddin area in the 14th Century are as much our contribution to the world’s heritage as Humayun’s Tomb. Hopefully this programme will lead to the revival of the pure art and generate greater interest amongst the younger generation while giving the qawwals new performance venues and greater recognition,” Ratish Nanda, project director, AKTC, told Newsline.

“Nizamuddin Basti has been the cradle of Hindustani culture for 700 years and we hope to revive it through these programmes.”

Sajeed, a student of class IV of The Aga Khan School, has just arrived home from school. On his way home, he animatedly kept telling his mother how surprised he was to know that his class friend Maha had not heard about Machu Picchu, Pratik borrowed three books from the library on the topic of medieval age and Ridwan had already memorised the birthdates of 2010 Academy Award Winners.

Even before having his lunch, Sajeed turned on his elder sister Simin’s computer, but not to browse on Facebook or play games. Instead he logged on to champs21.com, his new obsession to participate in ‘Brain Brats’, the first ever online knowledge combat in Bangladesh.

His last ranking among his peer-group was third. He was trying hard to beat Pratik from his own school and Barnali from Sunbeams School to make it to the top.

“I’ve been playing Brain Brats every day ever since it started on February 7 to improve my scores,” said Sajeed. “I have played it at least three hundred times, and have beaten my own highest score almost every time! I think answering the science and math related questions is a breeze for me, but the real tricky ones are the questions on the topic of general knowledge and IQ. I have picked up the habit of reading the “Brain Brats Knowledge Corner” in The Daily Star, and that helps a lot!”

Brain Brats is an inter-school competition conducted online, where students from Dhaka, Chittagong, Sylhet and Rajshahi log on for free, and compete with each other to win a study tour to Kuala Lumpur with their mothers.

Jointly organised by The Daily Star and Champs21, this is the first Bangladeshi e-assessment service. A total of forty-five English medium schools are participating in the competition nationwide. Brain Brats 2011 consists of three rounds: online round, school grooming round, and the grand finale where students are tested on three different subjects: math, science and general knowledge. The first round lasted for almost a month, while the grooming round by the schools ends today. One or two top performers per class from each school will have the opportunity to take the final test tomorrow at the Bangabandhu International Conference Centre, and win the title for themselves and their schools.

During the first round the students from 45 schools took more than 150,000 test attempts to prove their wits among the peers.

“I have been selected for the grand finale and I am practicing in champs21.com everyday to be the champion under the supervision of our teacher,” said Nafeez, a student of HURDCO International School. “I want to be one of the Champs to win the study trip to Kuala Lumpur. I don’t mind being the 1st runner up though! An ASUS laptop sounds equally cool!” said Nafeez with a huge grin. “But seriously! The best part of the contest is challenging myself and my friends based on how much we know about the world. Nothing makes me happier than to see my top score beating my previous top score!” he added.

“Due to the huge response from students and active participation of the schools we decided to extend the duration of the first round,” said Russell T Ahmed, CEO, Champs21. He also added “Every student proved to be a champion, and it has been very difficult to choose the top students among them. “We also thank the schools for encouraging their students to break the walls of conventional education system.”

The schools that participated in the contest were highly involved in the selection and grooming process. “It is very prestigious for our school, and that is why we are allocating resources such as computer lab, school library, special teaching sessions and enthusiastic teachers to groom up our kids. On behalf of Bangladesh International Tutorial, I would congratulate my students for their active participation in Brain Brats and also thank The Daily Star and Champs21 team for such a great initiative,” said Lubna Chowdhury, principal of Bangladesh International Tutorial (BIT).

She also mentioned that the real champions are not the ones who win the flashy awards, but the ones who tried to learn more outside the textbook, and will keep the appetite for knowledge undying.

During the online round, The Daily Star and Champs21 team went to the participating schools to answer all the queries of the participants and give them a live demo of the contest. These visits were named “School Activation Session”. According to Tasmina, a student of South Breeze International School, the session had been very helpful to her, as her parents are not internet-savvy enough to help her with the needed guidance.

Since its launch in October 2010 champs21.com has been working towards popularising e-learning and self-assessment through internet. It primarily offers an online assessment service for the students from class 3 to class 10 of both Bangla and English medium schools, where students can assess their own strengths and weaknesses in Mathematics and Science towards stronger academic foundation.

This also allows students to know their position among all peers countrywide, and opens up opportunities to share lessons, tips, and solutions with students from the same class. Self-learning and peer-learning are thus encouraged through the web portal. The interactive portal is a great tool for academic preparation allowing students to take test anytime, anywhere, at their own pace.

An instant result with performance feedback and answer analysis is provided with a graphical presentation to both the students and their parents. Students can also brush up their co-curricular learning through free Bangla and English literature, art/craft lessons, General Knowledge, IQ, and e-entertainment. Champs21 aims to help the students of Bangladesh be at par with global education delivery, and prepare them for the future world with complete awareness of the ‘self’ and unique cultural identity.

The grand finale of the “Brain Brats” Knowledge Combat will be held on March 12. Students and schools are all warming up for the gala event with great enthusiasm.

“It is a great initiative and Brain Brats is just the beginning. There is a lot more to come with Champs21,” said Mahfuz Anam, Editor and Publisher of The Daily Star adding, “The Daily Star will always spearhead any initiative that has to do with true learning. Champs21.com and events such as Brain Brats have just opened the door for that. It is indeed a great feeling to be pioneering something so great! With a two-pronged vision of bridging the digital divide and preparing the future generation for an increasingly global battle of minds, Champs21 will hopefully be an example for many such local initiatives in the near future.”

S o u r c e :  h t t p : / / w w w . t h e d a i l y s t a r . n e t

His Highness Princes Aga Khan Shia Imami Ismaili Council for Tanzania recently embarked on blood collection from its members for the injured and also distributed needful materials.

Ismaili Community volunteer Alkarim Hirani said the explosions had affected the whole country. It was, therefore, public obligation to support the victims so that the injured could get speedy recovery.

“We have decided to collect blood from our members to save the lives of bomb victims. The blood will be distributed to hospitals, where Bongo la Mboto bomb victims are admitted,” he said.

Hirani also called on other people to donate blood to help nurses and doctors work smoothly when attending to patients in need of blood.

“Doctors and nurses have played a great role in attending the injured people. However, we also need to support them by denoting more blood so that those, who need it get it on time,” he said.

According to him, blood collection was done at Aga Khan Hospital in Dare es Salaam.

Meanwhile, Hirani said the Isamili Community also collected from its members goods worth 4m/-, including blankets, mosquito nets, juice and glucose to support the victims at Saba Saba Grounds, Temeke Hospital and Amana Hospital in Dare es Salaam. He, however, said more support was still needed.

For his part, Muhimbili Public Relations officer Aminiel Aligaesha said volunteers went to the hospital to donate blood for the victims.

He, however, said more blood was needed and he was hopeful that more volunteers would still donate.

Source: The Guardian

The Murids arrange religious Majalises in Jamat Khanas where they make religious offerings, supplications and reaffirm their allegiance to the Imam of time. Sweets and festive refreshment is served and the Ismailies wish each other Khushhali or Salgira Mubarak.

Ismailies around the world celebrated the Salgira, this year, jubilantly. Jamat Khanas were decorated in many parts of the world. Many people in North America, Australia and Europe closed their offices and businesses early to get to Jamat Khanas in time.

In Gilgit-Baltistan and Chitral of Pakistan, Ismailies also congregated the Birthday of their Imam in a festive and religious fashion. Houses were seen decorated, lighting on the mountains and around Jamat Khana (prayer and social hall) premises and cultural dishes were especially prepared in the designated area of Jamat Khana called Langer.

Various Day and evening Majalises were arranged in which waezeen delivered speeches urging the Murids to follow the guidance of their Imam in their worldly and religious matters. The waezeen emphasized the Jamat to work for the better image of Islam through service to humanity.

This year’s celebrations were congregated modestly as the Ismailies simultaneously honour the holy month of Muharam in which one of their Imams, Imam Hussain Ibn Ali was martyred and his family was massacred by Umayyad Caliph Yazid, at Karbala in 680 CE

They pledged that every member of the community will continue to serve the humanity which, their Imam has consistently taken as mission since 1957.

The Ismailies concluded their celebrations with special prayers for all the Muslims around the world who are passing through difficult times. They also prayed for their national prosperity, peace and development in all their respective countries.

Q.K Sunny from Gilgit-Baltistan has contributed to this story