How is the "scorched earth" policy against the Hazaras progressing in the Taliban Emirate?
By Dr. Khalideen Ziaee, Head of the Educational Discourse Think Tank of the Afghan Nation, especially for "Sangar"
This article examines the Taliban’s repressive policies against the Hazara people over the past four years. The Hazaras, as one of Afghanistan’s indigenous and historical ethnic groups, have faced systematic discrimination, forced displacement, land confiscation, massacres, sexual violence, and a scorched-earth policy. The role of Hazara political and religious leaders in the continuation of this repression, the silence of the international community, and a comparison of this situation with historical genocides against the Hazara people are among the key topics of this research.
Introduction
The Hazara people are one of the original and historical ethnic groups of Afghanistan, who have always been subjected to discrimination and oppression. From the era of Amir Abdur Rahman Khan in the 19th century to the present day, Hazaras have been marginalized as “the other” in Afghanistan’s power structure. After the fall of the republic and the Taliban’s return to power in 2021, this discrimination intensified in various forms. This article analyzes the different dimensions of structural oppression against the Hazara people.
1) Forced Displacement and Land Confiscation
One of the Taliban’s main strategies to alter Afghanistan’s demographic composition has been the forced displacement and land confiscation of Hazaras in their native regions. Areas such as Behsud, Daikundi, and Kandahar have witnessed the forced eviction of Hazara families from their ancestral lands. This policy has not only resulted in the displacement of thousands but has also dismantled the economic and social structure of the Hazara community.
2) Murder, Assassination, and Systematic Repression
In recent years, hundreds of Hazara intellectuals, students, and activists have been assassinated. Attacks on Hazara educational centers (such as the attack on the Kaaj Educational Center in western Kabul), mosques, and cultural gatherings are examples of the Taliban’s genocidal policy. These attacks have been met with either silence or even justification by Taliban authorities.
3) Sexual Violence and the Policy of Enslaving Hazara Women
One of the most horrific aspects of this oppression has been the use of Hazara women as “war trophies.” Numerous reports document cases of forced marriages, gang rapes, and the sexual exploitation of Hazara women by Taliban members. This practice not only violates fundamental human rights but also reflects the Taliban’s perception of Hazaras as third-class citizens without rights or dignity.
4) The Role of Hazara Leaders in Perpetuating This Oppression
Some Hazara leaders, instead of resisting, have collaborated with the Taliban. Karim Khalili, former vice president of Afghanistan, is one such figure whose silence and appeasement toward the Taliban have contributed to the continuation of this oppression. Additionally, some Hazara clerics and representatives within the Taliban government, rather than advocating for their people, have prioritized personal gains and securing their own positions. This internal betrayal has weakened Hazara resistance and facilitated continued repression.
5) The Taliban’s Scorched-Earth Policy Against the Hazaras
The Taliban’s scorched-earth policy against the Hazaras is reminiscent of the crimes committed by Amir Abdur Rahman Khan in the late 19th century. At that time, thousands of Hazaras were killed or sold into slavery. Today, the Taliban, particularly Mullah Hibatullah Akhundzada and other leaders of the Islamic Emirate, are executing a new phase of the same policy.
6) Conclusion and Recommendations
This article demonstrates that the oppression of the Hazara people is not only a historical injustice but also a systematic policy aimed at erasing them from Afghanistan’s geography. The silence of internal leaders, the indifference of the international community, and the cooperation of some political factions with the Taliban have facilitated this process. To counter this situation, the following measures are proposed:
1 - Documenting and exposing Taliban crimes through international media and human rights organizations.
2 - Creating internal unity among Hazaras and preventing the collaboration of traitorous leaders with the Taliban.
3 - Pressuring the international community to refrain from recognizing the Taliban until their crimes cease.
4 - Supporting local resistance movements against the Taliban’s racist policies.
Without decisive action, the oppression of the Hazaras will continue, and history will record yet another genocide.
