Discrimination Against Hazara People, what and why it is happening.

Essay by mrhankeyHigh School, 12th grade January 2006

download word file, 5 pages 4.0

Downloaded 120 times

"The Talibs said he was a liar and a thief like all Hazaras and ordered him to get his family out of the house by sundown. Hassan protested. But my neighbor said the Talibs were looking at the big house like - how did he say it? - yes, like 'wolves looking at a flock of sheep.' They told Hassan they would be moving in to protect the house ... Hassan protested again. So they took him to the street ... and shot him in the back of the head" (Hosseini 219).

Within the Afghanistan culture this is an act that would not be punished, an act that will soon be forgotten by many. Why? Only because this unfortunate man is a Shi'a Hazara; a minority culture in Afghanistan. It is haunting to think that such a tragedy can happen with such little consequences to the perpetrator. This is the twisted way of the Afghan Culture; The majority rule, but in a monopolizing, uncivilized, and inhumane manner.

They use their numbers to suppress those they do not care for (such as the Shi'a Muslims). The Hazaras are a primary target for killings and abuse from the Afghan population because of their minority religion.

According to Kristian Berg Harpviken from the International Peace Research Institution, the Hazaras are a downcast ethnic group within Afghanistan, there lie numerous other ethnicities within the Afghanistan. The three primary (dominant by population) groups are Pashtuns, Uzbeks and Tajik. The royal family of Afghanistan are Pashtuns within the Mohammadzai clan. There are many sub groups of the primary ethnic groups (such as the Pashtuns, Uzbeks, Tajik, and Hazara).

Afghanistan has few ethnic groups consisting of the majority of the population. Seven specific peoples the "Pashtuns are the dominant ethnic group, accounting for about 38-44% of...