Hazaras

Hazaras
Sgt. Ken Scar (U.S. Armed Forces) · Public domain · source
Group	Hazaras
Population estimate	~6–12 million (est.)
Regions	Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iran, Australia, Canada, United Kingdom, United States
Languages	Hazaragi, Dari, Persian
Religions	Twelver Shia Islam, Ismaili Islam, Sunni Islam (minorities)

Hazaras Hazaras are an ethnic group primarily associated with central Afghanistan and parts of Pakistan and Iran. They are known for distinct linguistic, cultural, and historical markers linked to the Greater Khorasan region, the Timurid Empire, and the modern history of Afghanistan. Hazaras have been prominent in debates involving ethnic minority rights, refugee crises, and international responses such as involvement by United Nations agencies and nongovernmental organizations like Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch.

Name and Etymology

The ethnonym has been discussed in scholarship connected to medieval sources such as Ibn Battuta and travelers to Herat and Kabul. Some historians relate the name to terms used in the Mongol Empire era and to constructions appearing in Persian language chronicles from the Safavid dynasty and the Durrani Empire. Linguists compare forms appearing in Turkic languages and Chagatai language manuscripts, and modern researchers cite works by scholars affiliated with institutions such as University of Oxford, Harvard University, and University of Cambridge.

History

Historical narratives place Hazara communities in the central Afghan plateau, notably in Hazarajat, through periods including the Timurid Empire, the movement of the Mongol invasions, and the expansionist policies of rulers like Abdur Rahman Khan. During the 19th century, campaigns by the Emirate of Afghanistan and treaties such as those involving the Treaty of Gandamak affected regional control. The 20th century saw Hazara involvement in the politics of Kingdom of Afghanistan, the coups of figures like Mohammad Daoud Khan, and the conflicts involving Soviet–Afghan War combatants and factions such as Mujahideen. The post-2001 era brought interaction with entities including the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, United States Department of Defense, and organizations like the Afghan Independent Human Rights Commission amid increased migration to countries like Pakistan, Iran, Australia, and Canada.

Demographics and Distribution

Major population centers historically include districts around Bamyan, Ghazni, Maidan Wardak, and Dahla basin localities. Cross-border communities are present in Quetta in Balochistan, southwestern Kabul Province environs, and eastern provinces adjoining Pakhtunkhwa. Diaspora concentrations exist in Melbourne, Toronto, London, Calgary, and Los Angeles', where consular and refugee services from countries such as Australia Department of Home Affairs, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, and the United States Department of State have been relevant. Demographic surveys by agencies including the World Bank and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees inform estimates.

Language and Culture

The primary vernacular, Hazaragi, is a variety of Dari language with lexical and phonetic influences traceable to Persian language, Mongolic languages, and Turkic languages evident in literature produced in cities such as Kabul and Herat. Cultural expression includes oral traditions, poetry influenced by forms like the ghazal and associations with poets referencing themes seen in Rumi, Ferdowsi, Saadi Shirazi, and regional performers from Bamyan and Ghazni. Artistic practices draw from craft traditions found in bazaars like those in Mashhad and Isfahan, and musical styles sometimes incorporate instruments seen in Central Asia. Educational participation has been connected to institutions including Kabul University and international scholarship programs administered by entities such as the Fulbright Program.

Religion and Identity

Religious affiliation among Hazara populations is predominantly Twelver Shia Islam, with communities following Ismaili traditions in regions associated with leaders linked to the Aga Khan Development Network and minorities with Sunni alignment in certain districts. Religious practices intersect with commemorations observed at sites like shrines in Bamyan and observances tied to events recorded in histories of the Safavid dynasty and the Qajar dynasty. Identity politics involving sectarian conflict have engaged actors such as Hezbollah-linked networks in rhetoric (regionally contested), regional states including Iran, and international human rights bodies like Human Rights Watch.

Politics, Society, and Human Rights

Hazara political mobilization has included representation in Afghan institutions such as the Wolesi Jirga and involvement with political parties and movements that have roots in local civil society organizations and associations that liaise with bodies like the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan and NGOs including International Rescue Committee. Human rights concerns feature in reporting by Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, and the United Nations Human Rights Council regarding targeted violence, freedom of movement, and access to services during periods of control by actors like the Taliban (1996–2001) and the later Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (2021–present). Legal advocacy has invoked instruments such as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and engagement with mechanisms within the International Criminal Court jurisdictional debates.

Notable Hazaras and Diaspora

Prominent individuals associated with Hazara communities include political figures, artists, and scholars: politicians who served in President Ashraf Ghani administrations and earlier cabinets; activists who worked with Shukria Barakzai and organizations like Gulbuddin Hekmatyar's opposition; writers and poets drawing on traditions like those of Sayed Ismail Balkhi; athletes who competed in events such as the Olympic Games; filmmakers screened at festivals like the Cannes Film Festival; scientists and academics affiliated with University of California, Berkeley, Columbia University, University of Toronto, and Australian National University; and journalists contributing to outlets like BBC Persian, Al Jazeera, and The New York Times. Diaspora leaders have formed community organizations in cities such as Quetta, Melbourne, Toronto, and London to engage with consulates including Embassy of Afghanistan, Washington, D.C. and international agencies including United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and International Organization for Migration.

Category:Ethnic groups in Afghanistan