A number of human rights activists, Afghan migrants and members of the Hazara community in New England, United States, have called on the United Nations and the international community to recognize the “genocide of the Hazaras.”
The online meeting was hosted by the Hazara community in New England and brought together human rights activists, university professors, cultural figures and Afghan migrants. It was held to mark the anniversary of the genocide of Hazaras in Afghanistan under Abdur Rahman Khan.
Sima Samar, former chair of the Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission, said Hazara advocacy must be grounded in truth, careful documentation, identification of perpetrators, and the determination of individual responsibility and the chain of command. She said responsibility should not be attributed to an entire ethnic group.
She stressed that, alongside efforts to investigate genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes should also be rigorously documented and submitted to international bodies for legal action.
Mohammad Amin Ahmadi, a researcher and university professor, said the historical record shows that during Abdur Rahman Khan’s rule, a campaign was carried out to suppress, kill and destroy parts of the Hazara community. The campaign also involved repression, forced displacement and the seizure of Hazara lands.
He added that the people of Afghanistan, as a nation, need to understand the truth about the genocide of the Hazaras.
Abbas Basir, Afghanistan’s former minister of higher education, said there is evidence of mass killings, land seizures and intent on Abdur Rahman Khan’s part to destroy the Hazaras. He said the issuance of a decree declaring Hazaras infidels and the mobilization of forces against them were also significant evidence from that period.
Referring to targeted attacks on Hazaras in civilian locations—including schools, mosques, sports stadiums and other public places—as well as threats against them, Basir said these factors are relevant to assessing the risk of genocide in the current circumstances.
Participants also called on the United Nations, the European Union and other governments to formally recognize the genocide of Hazaras in Afghanistan. They urged the establishment of an investigative commission to document crimes and submit evidence to the International Criminal Court.
They also called for protective measures and humanitarian assistance, safe pathways for asylum, the deployment of international observers, and guarantees that aid is distributed equitably among Hazara communities.
