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Hazaras

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The Hazaras (Template:Langx; Template:Langx) are an ethnic group and a principal component of Afghanistan’s population. They are one of the largest ethnic groups in Afghanistan, primarily residing in the Hazaristan (Hazarajat) region in central Afghanistan. Hazaras also form significant minority communities in Pakistan, mainly in Quetta, and in Iran, primarily in Mashhad. They speak Dari and Hazaragi, dialects of Persian. Dari, also known as Dari Persian, is the official language of Afghanistan.

The Hazaras are one of the most persecuted groups in Afghanistan.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> Between 1888 and 1893, more than half of the Hazara population was massacred under the Emirate of Afghanistan,<ref name="Iranica">Template:Cite encyclopedia</ref> and they have faced persecution at various times over the past decades.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> Widespread ethnic discrimination,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> religious persecution,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="Afghanistan-2022">Template:Cite web</ref> organized attacks by terrorist groups,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="Afghanistan-2022"/> harassment, and arbitrary arrest for various reasons have affected Hazaras.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> There have been numerous cases of torture of Hazara women,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> land and home seizures,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> deliberate economic restrictions, economic marginalization of the Hazara region<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and appropriation of Hazara agricultural fields and pastures leading to their forced displacement from Afghanistan.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>Template:Excessive citations inline

Etymology

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The etymology of the word "Hazara" is disputed, with differing opinions on its origin.

Nasir Khusraw Balkhi, the 11th-century Persian-language poet and scholar, refers to the word "Hazara" (Template:Transliteration Template:Lang) in his poetry:<ref name="Mousavi-1998-35">Template:Cite book</ref> Template:Quote

One of the earliest mentions of the Hazaras appears in the Baburnama, written by Babur, the founder of the Mughal Empire, in the early 16th century. The text specifically refers to prominent Hazara tribes, including the Sultan Masudi<ref name="Babur">Zahīr ud-Dīn Muhammad Babur (1921)."Memoirs Of Zehir-Ed-Din Muhammed Babur. Volume 1.". Oxford University Press. Pages 44, 243, 279."</ref> and Turkoman Hazaras.<ref name="Babur-1826a">Template:Cite book</ref>

In their native language, the Hazaras refer to themselves as "Azra" (Template:Transliteration Template:Lang) or (Template:Transliteration Template:Lang).<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

Origin

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Despite being one of the principal population groups in Afghanistan,<ref>Template:Citation</ref> the origins of the Hazara people have not been fully reconstructed. Genetic and linguistic analyses describe Hazaras as an ethnically mixed group,<ref>Template:Citation</ref> with varying degrees of ancestry linked to contemporary Turkic, Mongolic, and Iranic populations.<ref name="دلجو-2018"/><ref name="Babur-1826b"/><ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref name="Martínez-Cruz-2011">Template:Cite journal</ref><ref name="Chen-2019"/><ref name="Temirkhanov">Temirkhanov L. (1968). "О некоторых спорных вопросах этнической истории хазарейского народа". Советская этнография. 1. P. 86. In Russian: "...монгольские отряды, оставленные в Афганистане Чингиз-ханом или его преемниками, стали исходным пластом, основой хазарейского этногенеза. "</ref><ref name="Bacon">Template:Cite book</ref><ref name="bigenc" /><ref name=":2">Template:Citation</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The physical characteristics of some Hazaras and Char Aimaks are Mongolian, likely a legacy of the Mongol invasion.<ref name="Babur" /> Additionally, the Hazaras share common racial traits, physical features, and a strong resemblance to the Turkic populations of Central Asia.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref name="Martínez-Cruz-2011"/><ref name="Chen-2019"/> Babur, the founder of the Mughal Empire in the early 16th century, mentioned the Hazaras in the Baburnama, referring to some as "Turkoman Hazaras."<ref name="Babur-1826a"/>

Over the centuries, various Mongol (Turco-Mongol) and Turkic groups, notably the Qara'unas, Chagatai Turco-Mongols, Ilkhanate, and Timurids, merged with local indigenous Turkic and Iranic populations. Scholars agree that the Hazaras are the result of this historical blending, representing a unique ethnogenesis shaped by Turkic, Mongolic, and Iranic influences.<ref>B. Campbell, Disappearing people? Indigenous groups and ethnic minorities in South and Central Asia in Barbara Brower, Barbara Rose Johnston (Ed.) International Mountain Society, California, 2007</ref>

Although the Hazaras are a mix of multiple distinct ethnicities, a number of researchers focus on their Mongolic component. Some authors, including Elizabeth Emaline Bacon,<ref name="Bacon" /><ref>Elizabeth E. Bacon. (1951). "The Inquiry into the History of the Hazara Mongols of Afghanistan". Southwestern Journal of Anthropology. Vol. 7. No. 3. pp. 230–247.</ref> Barbara A. West,<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> Yuri Averyanov,<ref>Аверьянов Ю. А. (2017). "Хазарейцы - ираноязычные монголы Афганистана"". Мир Центральной Азии. pp. 110–117.</ref> and Elbrus Sattsayev,<ref>Сатцаев Э. Б. (2009). "Монголы-хазарейцы Афганистана и аспекты "народного шиизма"". Единая Калмыкия в единой России: через века в будущее. pp. 413–415.</ref> refer to them as "Hazara Mongols". However, no historical documents have been found that explicitly mention the term "Hazara Mongols," no researchers encountered Mongol-speaking Hazaras.<ref name="Mousavi-1998a">Template:Cite book</ref> According to historian Lutfi Temirkhanov, Mongolian detachments left in Afghanistan by Genghis Khan or his successors became the foundational layer of Hazara ethnogenesis.<ref name="Temirkhanov" /> However, this claim is highly contested and remains questionable and unacceptable. To date, no credible evidence or primary sources have been found to support the idea that Genghis Khan or his commanders ordered their troops or detachments to settle in what is now known as Hazarajat.<ref name="Mousavi-1998-35"/> In the Ghilji neighborhood, Hazaras are called Moghol.<ref>Temirkhanov L. (1968). "О некоторых спорных вопросах этнической истории хазарейского народа". Советская этнография. 1. P. 91. In Russian: "Ближайшие соседи хазарейцев – гильзаи – называли и называют их «монголы»."</ref> In turn, the Hazaras have also been called Qarluq, Khalaj, and Turkoman.<ref name="Mousavi-1998-31">Template:Cite book</ref> Evidence for the Mongol influence in Hazara ethnogenesis includes linguistic data, historical sources, toponymy,<ref name="TemirkhanovLutfi">Temirkhanov L. (1968). "О некоторых спорных вопросах этнической истории хазарейского народа". Советская этнография. 1. P. 91. In Russian: "Об участии монголов в этногенезе хазарейцев свидетельствуют и данные лингвистики... также исторические источники (например, «Записки Бабура») и данные топонимики"</ref> and population genetics studies,<ref>Sabitov Zh. M. (2011)."Происхождение хазарейцев с точки зрения ДНК-генеалогии". The Russian Journal of Genetic Genealogy. 2 (1): pp. 37–40.</ref> while there is much evidence to the contrary.<ref name="Mousavi-1998a" /><ref name="Martínez-Cruz-2011" /> Scholars such as Vasily Bartold,<ref name="Bartold">Бартольд. В. В. (2022). Ислам. Культура мусульманства. Москва: Litres. p. 162. In Russian: "...еще в XVI веке говорили хазарейцы по-монгольски в северной части Афганистана..."</ref> Ármin Vámbéry,<ref name="Vámbéry">Ármin Vámbéry (2003). Путешествие по Средней Азии. Москва: Восточная литература. In Russian: "Говорят, что хазарейцы ... были перевезены Чингисханом из Монголии, своей прародины, на юг Средней Азии и благодаря влиянию шаха Аббаса II обращены в шиизм. Поразительно, что они заменили свой родной язык персидским, который даже в населенных ими областях не повсеместно распространен, и лишь небольшая часть, оставшаяся изолированной в горах поблизости от Герата и уже несколько столетий занимающаяся выжиганием угля, говорит на некоем жаргоне монгольского языка."</ref> Vadim Masson, Vadim Romodin,<ref name="Массон, Ромодин">Массон В. М., Ромодин В. А. (1964). История Афганистана. Том I. С древнейших времен до начала XVI века. Москва: Наука. pp. 289–290. In Russian: "Еще в XVI в., по сообщению Бабура, среди хазарейцев был распространен монгольский язык, а небольшая часть их, по-видимому, и в XIX в. говорила на языке, близком к монгольскому."</ref> Ilya Petrushevsky,<ref name="Petrushevsky">Петрушевский И. П. (1952). Рашид-ад-дин и его исторический труд. Москва/Ленинград: Издательство Академии Наук СССР. P. 29. In Russian: "Как известно, большой массив монгольского населения (хезарейцы), отчасти сохранявшего свой язык еще в XIX в., сложился на территории Афганистана..."</ref> Allah Rakha, Fatima, Min-Sheng Peng, Atif Adan, Rui Bi, Memona Yasmin, and Yong-Gang Yao have written about the historical use of the Mongolian language by the Hazaras.<ref name="Forensic Science International">Allah Rakha, Fatima, Min-Sheng Peng, Atif Adan, Rui Bi, Memona Yasmin, Yong-Gang Yao (2017)."mtDNA sequence diversity of Hazara ethnic group from Pakistan". Forensic Science International: Genetics. Volume 30: Pages e1-e5. In English: "Moreover, there are also lines of evidence that some of the remote tribes of Hazaras spoke Mongol language till last century. Their central Asian facial features including sparse beards, high cheekbones and epicanthic eye folds further supports their Mongol origin."</ref> Despite these efforts, no evidence has been found to identify any Mongol-speaking Hazaras in historical records.<ref name="Mousavi-1998-31"/>

Some historians argue that the Bamiyan Buddha statues constructed around the 5th and 6th centuries and noted for their resemblance to the Hazaras in facial features and appearance, suggest the deep historical roots of the Hazara people in the central regions of present-day Afghanistan.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite journal</ref>

History

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File:Hazara horseman fighting against the troops of Babur in February 1507 on the road from Herat to Kabul (2).jpg
A Hazara horseman engages in battle against Babur's troops along the Herat-Kabul Road in February 1507

A mention of the Hazaras appears in Babur's Baburnama in the early 16th century, particularly referring to tribes such as the Sultan Masaudi Hazaras,<ref name="Babur" /> Turkoman Hazaras,<ref name="Babur-1826a" /> and Kedi Hazaras.<ref name="Babur" />

It is reported that the Hazaras embraced Shia Islam between the end of the 16th century and the beginning of the 17th century, during the Safavid period.<ref name="Monsutti">Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In the 18th century, Hazara men, together with individuals from other ethnic groups, were enlisted into the army of Ahmad Shah Durrani.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

19th century

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File:Hazara tribesmen.jpg
A painting of armed Hazara tribesmen in 1892

During the second reign of Dost Mohammad Khan in the 19th century, Hazaras from Hazarajat were taxed for the first time. However, for the most part, they managed to maintain their regional autonomy until the 1892 Battle of Uruzgan<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> and the subsequent subjugation by Abdur Rahman, which began in the late 19th century.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

When the Treaty of Gandomak was signed and the Second Anglo-Afghan War ended in 1880, Abdur Rahman set a goal to bring Hazaristan, Turkistan, and Kafiristan under his control. He launched several campaigns in Hazaristan in response to resistance from the Hazaras, during which his forces committed atrocities. The southern part of Hazaristan was spared, as its inhabitants accepted his rule, while other regions rejected Abdur Rahman and supported his uncle, Sher Ali Khan. In response, Abdur Rahman waged war against the tribal leaders who opposed his policies and rule. This conflict is known as the Hazara Uprisings.<ref name="Monsutti" />

These campaigns had a catastrophic impact on the demographics of the Hazaras, resulting in the massacre of over sixty percent of the total Hazara population, with many being displaced and exiled from their own lands. The Hazara lands were distributed among loyalist villagers from nearby non-Hazara communities. The repression following the uprising has been characterized as genocide or ethnic cleansing in the history of modern Afghanistan.<ref name="دلجو-2013">Template:Cite book</ref><ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref>Template:Cite journal</ref>

After these massacres, Abdul Rahman forced many Hazara families from the Hazara areas of Uruzgan and other parts of Hazaristan to leave their hometowns and ancestral lands, prompting many Hazaras to flee to neighboring countries such as Central Asia, Iran, British India, Iraq, and Syria. Those Hazaras living in the northern Hindu Kush migrated to Tsarist Russia, primarily settling in the southern cities, while some moved to Iran. Over time, many Hazaras living in Tsarist Russian regions lost their language, culture, and ethnic identity due to the similarities in racial background and physical appearance of the local population, leading them to assimilate. The fleeing Hazaras settled in former Tsarist Russia regions, including Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, and Dagestan. Meanwhile, the Hazaras from northwestern Afghanistan migrated to Iran, settling in neighborhoods in and around Mashhad, where they later became known as Khawari or Barbari. Another group of Hazaras from the southeastern regions of Afghanistan moved to British India, where they reside in Quetta (present-day Pakistan) and parts of present-day India. Additionally, some Hazaras settled in Syria and Iraq. Unlike those who migrated to Tsarist Russia, the Hazaras in Pakistan, India, Iran, Syria, and Iraq were unable to integrate fully due to differences in physical appearance, allowing them to retain their language, culture, and ethnic identity.<ref name="archive.mashal.org">Template:Cite web</ref>

20th and 21st century

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File:Abdul Khaliq.jpg
Abdul Khaliq, a school student, assassinated King Nadir Shah of Afghanistan

In 1901, Habibullah Khan, Abdur Rahman's eldest son and successor, granted amnesty to the Hazaras and invited those exiled by his predecessor to return. However, few returned, settling instead in Turkistan and Balkh province, as they had lost their previous lands. The Hazaras continued to face social, economic, and political discrimination throughout most of the 20th century. In 1933, Muhammad Nadir Shah, the King of Afghanistan, was assassinated by Abdul Khaliq Hazara, a school student. The Afghan government later captured and executed him, along with several of his family members.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

Mistrust of the central government among the Hazaras and local uprisings persisted. In particular, from 1945 to 1946, during Zahir Shah's rule, a revolt led by Ibrahim Khan, known as "Ibrahim Gawsawar," erupted in response to new taxes that were imposed exclusively on the Hazaras. Meanwhile, the Kuchis were not only exempted from these taxes but also received allowances from the Afghan government.<ref name="Monsutti" /> The angry rebels began capturing and killing government officials. In response, the central government sent a force to subdue the region and subsequently removed the taxes.Template:Citation needed

File:ابراهیم گاوسوار.jpg
Ibrahim Khan, known as "Ibrahim Gawsawar", the leader of an armed Hazara uprising against excessive taxation during Zahir Shah's rule
File:Mazari.jpg
Abdul Ali Mazari, the leader of Hazaras during and following the Soviet–Afghan War

The repressive policiesTemplate:Clarify of the People's Democratic Party of Afghanistan (PDPA) after the Saur Revolution in 1978 led to uprisings throughout the country. Fearing Iranian influence, the Hazaras were particularly persecuted. In October 1979, President Hafizullah Amin published a list of 12,000 victims of the Taraki government, among whom were 7,000 Hazaras who had been shot in the notorious Pul-e-Charkhi prison.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

During the Soviet-Afghan War, the Hazarajat region did not experience as much heavy fighting as other parts of Afghanistan. Most of the Hazara mujahideen engaged in combat against the Soviets in regions on the periphery of Hazarajat. There was a division between the Tanzeem Nasle Nau Hazara, a party based in Quetta comprising Hazara nationalists and secular intellectuals, and the Islamist parties in Hazarajat.<ref name="Monsutti" /> By 1979, the Hazara Islamist groups had already liberated Hazarajat from the central Soviet-backed Afghan government and subsequently took full control of the region away from the secularists. By 1984, the Islamist dominance in Hazarajat was complete. As the Soviets withdrew in 1989, the Islamist groups recognized the need to broaden their political appeal and shifted their focus toward Hazara nationalism.<ref name="Monsutti" /> This shift led to the establishment of Hizbe-Wahdat, an alliance of all Hazara resistance groups, except for Harakat-e Islami.

In 1992, with the fall of Kabul, Harakat-e Islami sided with Burhanuddin Rabbani's government, while Hizb-e Wahdat aligned with the opposition. Hizb-e Wahdat was eventually forced out of Kabul in 1995 when the Taliban captured the city and killed their leader, Abdul Ali Mazari. Following the Taliban's capture of Kabul in 1996, all Hazara groups united with the Northern Alliance against this common enemy. However, despite fierce resistance, Hazarajat fell to the Taliban in 1998. The Taliban isolated Hazarajat from the rest of the world, even preventing the United Nations from delivering food to the provinces of Bamyan, Ghor, Maidan Wardak, and Daikundi.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

In 1997, a revolt broke out among the Hazaras in Mazar-e Sharif when they refused to be disarmed by the Taliban, resulting in the deaths of 600 Taliban fighters in the subsequent fighting.<ref>Ahmed Rashid, Taliban: Militant Islam, Oil, and Fundamentalism in Central Asia, London and New Haven, 2000, p. 58</ref> In retaliation, the Taliban adopted the genocidal policies reminiscent of Abdur Rahman Khan's era. In 1998, six thousand Hazaras were killed in the north, with the intent of carrying out ethnic cleansing against the Hazara population.<ref>Ahmed Rashid, Taliban: Militant Islam, Oil, and Fundamentalism in Central Asia, London and New Haven, 2000, pp. 67–74</ref> In March 2001, the two giant Buddhas of Bamiyan were destroyed, despite widespread international condemnation.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

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File:Qazi Muhammad Isa.jpg
Qazi Muhammad Isa, Jinnah's close associate and a key figure of the All-India Muslim League in Balochistan, Pakistan

Hazaras have also played a significant role in the creation of Pakistan. One notable Hazara was Qazi Muhammad Isa of the Sheikh Ali tribe, who was a close friend of Muhammad Ali Jinnah; they met for the first time while studying in London. Qazi Muhammad Isa was the first person from his native province of Balochistan to obtain a Bar-at-Law degree and played a key role in establishing the All-India Muslim League in Balochistan.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Though Hazaras played a role in the anti-Soviet movement, some Hazaras also participated in the new communist government, which actively courted Afghan minorities. Sultan Ali Kishtmand, a Hazara, served as the Prime Minister of Afghanistan from 1981 to 1990, with a brief interruption in 1988.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> The Ismaili Hazaras of Baghlan Province likewise supported the communists, and their pir (religious leader), Jaffar Naderi, led a pro-Communist militia in the region.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

File:Daykundi Province A Model For Peace Reintegration Program.jpg
A Hazara boy and an Australian soldier in Daikundi.

During the following years, the Hazaras suffered severe oppression, and numerous ethnic massacres, genocides, and pogroms were carried out by the predominantly Pashtun Taliban. These events have been documented by organizations such as Human Rights Watch.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Following the September 11, 2001 attacks in the United States, American and Coalition forces invaded Afghanistan. After the fall of the Taliban, many Hazaras emerged as important figures in the country.<ref name="ngm">Template:Cite magazine</ref> Hazaras pursued higher education, enrolled in the army, and held various top government positions.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> Notable Hazaras in leadership roles included Vice Presidents, ministers, and governors, such as Karim Khalili, Sarwar Danish, Sima Samar, Muhammad Mohaqiq, Habiba Sarābi, Abdul Haq Shafaq, Sayed Anwar Rahmati, Qurban Ali Urozgani, Muhammad Arif Shah Jahan, Mahmoud Baligh, Mohammad Eqbal Munib, and Mohammad Asim Asim. Azra Jafari, the mayor of Nili, Daikundi, became the first female mayor in Afghanistan. Other notable Hazaras include Sultan Ali Keshtmand, Abdul Wahed Sarābi, Akram Yari, Ghulam Ali Wahdat, Sayed Mustafa Kazemi, Ghulam Husain Naseri, Abbas Noyan, Daoud Naji, Abbas Ibrahim Zada, Ramazan Bashardost, Ahmad Shah Ramazan, Ahmad Behzad, Nasrullah Sadiqi Zada Nili, Fahim Hashimi, Maryam Monsef, and others.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Although Afghanistan has historically been one of the poorest countries in the world, the Hazarajat region has remained underdeveloped due to past government neglect. Since the ousting of the Taliban in late 2001, billions of dollars have been invested in Afghanistan for reconstruction, and several large-scale projects began in August 2012. For instance, more than 5,000 kilometers of road pavement have been completed across the country, with little done in central Afghanistan (Hazarajat). Conversely, the Band-e Amir in Bamyan Province became the first national park in Afghanistan. A road from Kabul to Bamyan was also constructed, along with new police stations, government institutions, hospitals, and schools in Bamyan, Daikundi, and other provinces predominantly inhabited by Hazaras. Additionally, the first ski resort in Afghanistan was established in Bamyan Province.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Discrimination is evident in the treatment of Kuchis (Pashtun nomads who historically migrate from region to region depending on the season), who are allowed to use the pastures of Hazarajat during the summer months. It is believed that this practice began during the rule of Abdur Rahman Khan.<ref name="Bangkok Post-2012">Template:Cite news</ref> Living in mountainous Hazarajat, where arable farmland is scarce, the Hazara people rely on these pasture lands for their livelihood during the long and harsh winters. In 2007, some Kuchi nomads entered parts of Hazarajat to graze their livestock. When the local Hazaras resisted, a clash ensued, resulting in several deaths on both sides from gunfire. Such events continue to occur, even after the central government, including President Hamid Karzai, was compelled to intervene. In late July 2012, a Hazara police commander in Uruzgan Province reportedly rounded up and killed nine Pashtun civilians in retaliation for the deaths of two local Hazaras. The Afghan government is currently investigating this matter.<ref name="Bangkok Post-2012" />

File:Hazara women protest terrorist attack on students after Kabul bombing.jpg
Hazara Women Condemn September 2022 Kabul school bombing

President Hamid Karzai's efforts after the Peace Jirga to negotiate a deal with Taliban leaders caused deep unease among Afghanistan's minority communities, who had fought the Taliban the longest and suffered the most during their rule. Leaders of the Tajik, Uzbek, and Hazara communities vowed to resist any return of the Taliban to power, recalling the large-scale massacres of Hazara civilians during the Taliban's previous rule.<ref>"Afghan Overture to Taliban Aggravates Ethnic Tensions". The New York Times, 27 June 2010.</ref> The 2021 Kabul school bombing targeted a girls' school in Dashte Barchi, a predominantly Hazara area in western Kabul.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The Dashte Barchi district had frequently been attacked by the Islamic State – Khorasan Province.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Following the fall of Kabul to the Taliban in 2021, which marked the end of the war in Afghanistan, concerns were raised about whether the Taliban would reimpose the persecution of Hazaras as they did in the 1990s. An academic at Melbourne's La Trobe University stated that "The Hazaras are very fearful that the Taliban will likely reinstate the policies of the 1990s," despite Taliban reassurances that they would not revert to their previous oppressive practices.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> On 6 September 2022, Human Rights Watch reported that since the Taliban took over Afghanistan in August 2021, ISIS–K has claimed responsibility for 13 attacks against Hazaras and has been linked to at least three more, resulting in the deaths and injuries of at least 700 people. The Islamic State affiliate has repeatedly targeted Hazaras and other religious minorities at mosques, schools, and workplaces.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Genetics

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Genetically, the Hazaras have a mix of West Eurasian and East Eurasian components. Genetic data shows that Hazaras in Afghanistan cluster closely with the Uzbek population, while both groups are notably distinct from Afghanistan's Tajik and Pashtun populations.<ref name="Haber-2012" /><ref name="Martínez-Cruz-2011" /> There is evidence of both paternal and maternal connections to Turkic, Mongolic, and Iranic populations.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref>

The frequency of ancestral components among the Hazaras varies according to tribal affiliation. They show a high genetic affinity to present-day Turkic populations of Central Asia and East Asia, as well as to Mongolic populations. In terms of their overall genetic makeup, approximately 49% of the average gene pool of the Hazaras is derived from East Asian sources, around 48% from European sources, and approximately 0.17%, 0.47%, and 2.30% from African, Oceanian, and Amerindian sources, respectively. The genetic makeup of the Hazaras is similar to that of Uzbek, Uyghur, Kazakh, Kyrgyz, and Mongol populations.<ref name="Martínez-Cruz-2011"/><ref name="Chen-2019"/><ref>Template:Cite journal</ref><ref name="SabitovZh."/><ref name="Жабагин"/><ref name="He-2019">Template:Cite journal</ref>

Analyses suggest that the Hazaras are more closely related to the Turkic populations of Central Asia than to Mongolians, East Asians, or Indo-Iranians.<ref name="Martínez-Cruz-2011"/>

One study employing pairwise genetic distances, multidimensional scaling (MDS), principal component analysis (PCA), and phylogenetic reconstruction found that present-day Hazaras are genetically closer to Turkic-speaking groups such as the Uyghur, Kazakh, and Kyrgyz of northwest China than to other Central or South Asian populations, or to Mongolians. Complementary outgroup and admixture analyses—including f3, f4, f4-ratio, qpWave, and qpAdm—further reveal that Hazaras share more alleles with East Asian populations than with other Central Asians, with an estimated 57.8% of their ancestry linked to Mongolian-related sources. Based on these findings, other studies suggest that the Hazaras originate from Central Asia and share high similarities with the region's Turkic populations.<ref name="He-2019"/><ref name="Atif Adnan">Template:Cite journal</ref><ref name="Martínez-Cruz-2010">Template:Cite journal</ref>

Paternal haplogroups

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The most common paternal DNA haplogroups among Hazaras from Afghanistan are the East Eurasian haplogroup C-M217 (33.33%) and the West Eurasian haplogroup R1a1a-M17 (6.67%), followed by the West Eurasian haplogroups J2-M172 and L-M20. Some Hazaras were also found to belong to the haplogroups E1b1b1-M35, L-M20, and H-M69, which they share with Tajiks, Pashtuns, and Indian populations. Additionally, one individual with the haplogroup B-M60, typically found in Eastern Africa, was identified.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref><ref>John William Whale. Mitochondrial DNA Analysis of Four Ethnic Groups of Afghanistan. http://eprints.port.ac.uk/9862/1/John_Whale_MPhil_Thesis_2012.pdf Template:Webarchive</ref>

Haplogroup C2 (previously known as the C3-Star cluster) is the most frequent haplogroup among Pakistani and Afghan Hazaras.<ref name="Atif Adnan" /> Pakistani Hazaras have a high frequency of haplogroup C-M217 at approximately 40% (10/25) and haplogroup R1b at around 32% (8/25). A relatively high frequency of R1b has also been found among Eastern Russian Tatars and Bashkirs, and all three groups are thought to be associated with the Golden Horde.<ref>Template:Cite journal "Eastern Russian Tatars, Bashkirs, and Pakistani Hazara were found to carry R1b-M343 at unusually high frequencies of 12.65%, 46.07%, and 32%, respectively, compared to other regions of Eastern Asia, which rarely have this haplotype"</ref> Haplogroup C-M217, or C2, is the most common haplogroup in Mongol and Kazakh populations.<ref name="Atif Adnan" /> Studies indicate that Y-DNA haplogroup C2 among Hazaras is linked to the expansion of the Mongols<ref name="SabitovZh.">Sabitov Zh. M. (2011)."Происхождение хазарейцев с точки зрения ДНК-генеалогии". The Russian Journal of Genetic Genealogy. 2 (1): pp. 37–40. In Russian: "Гаплогруппа СЗ безусловно связана с экспансией монголов..."</ref> and supports the Mongolian origin of the Hazaras.<ref name="Жабагин"> Жабагин М. К. (2017). Анализ связи полиморфизма Y-хромосомы и родоплеменной структуры в казахской популяции Москва. p. 71. In Russian: "...за счет высокой частоты гаплогруппы С2-М217, что согласуется с монгольским происхождением хазарейцев."</ref> However, many genetic studies, including one such study, attribute the origin of the Hazaras directly to the Turkic populations of Central Asia.<ref name="Martínez-Cruz-2010"/>

Maternal haplogroups

[edit]

The Hazaras share approximately 35% of their maternal haplogroups with contemporary East Asian populations, while about 65% are shared with West Eurasian populations.<ref>Allah Rakha, Fatima, Min-Sheng Peng, Atif Adan, Rui Bi, Memona Yasmin, Yong-Gang Yao (2017)."mtDNA sequence diversity of Hazara ethnic group from Pakistan". Forensic Science International: Genetics. Volume 30: Page 3.</ref> Overall, the Hazaras predominantly have West Eurasian mtDNA.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite journal</ref>

Demographics

[edit]

Template:Further

File:US Army ethnolinguistic map of Afghanistan -- circa 2001-09.jpg
Ethnic groups in Afghanistan

Most unbiased sources estimate that Hazaras make up approximately 9% of Afghanistan's total population.<ref name="reliefweb.int" /><ref name="Iranica-Afghanistan" /><ref name="hazara0" /><ref name="hazara1" /><ref name="hazara2" /><ref name="hazara3" /><ref name="hazara4"/><ref name="hazara5" /><ref name="Khazeni-20032">Template:Cite encyclopedia</ref><ref name="ngm2">Template:Cite magazine</ref><ref name="Iranica-Afghanistan2">Template:Cite web</ref> Some sources, however, claim the figure is as low as 3%,<ref name="hazara5" /><ref name="libwashington" /><ref name="sciencedirect" /><ref name="hazara6" /> while others suggest it could be as high as 20%.<ref name="Khazeni-2003" /><ref name="ngm" /><ref name="hazara6" /> The World Hazara Council even claims that around 8 to 10 million Hazaras reside in Afghanistan and the Hazara population worldwide (espacially in Pakistan, Iran, and other countries, largely due to historical migration and displacement) could be as high as 14 million in 2024,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> which whould make up to a quarter of the total Afghan population and is not backed up by any unbiased source. During the Hazara uprisings between 1888 and 1893, over 60 percent of their population was massacred and forcibly displaced. Consequently, they lost a substantial portion of their ancestral lands to non-Hazaras—territory that, if retained, could have nearly doubled their current land holdings.<ref name="دلجو-2013" /><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Geographic distribution

[edit]

Afghanistan

[edit]

Template:Further Template:Expand section

File:Afghanistan and the geographical area of Hazaristan in 1890.jpg
Afghanistan and the geographical region of Hazaristan in 1890

The Hazaras are among the largest ethnic groups in Afghanistan, predominantly settled in the central regions known as Hazaristan (Hazarajat), with a significant presence throughout the country.<ref>Template:Citation</ref> Their population within Afghanistan is estimated to range from 8 to 10 million.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Until the 1880s, the Hazaras maintained full autonomy and controlled all of Hazarajat. The central government in Kabul had not yet succeeded in bringing them under its rule.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

Central Asia

[edit]

Template:Further After the massacre and genocide of the Hazaras by Abdur Rahman from 1888 to 1893, many Hazaras migrated to Central Asian regions under Tsarist Russian occupation, including Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Kazakhstan, with a significant number settling in Samarkand and Bukhara. Over time, many Hazaras living in these regions lost their accent, language, and ethnic identity due to the similarities in racial structure and appearance with the local populations, leading to their assimilation.<ref name="archive.mashal.org" /><ref name=":0">Template:Cite book</ref>

Pakistan

[edit]

Template:Further

File:General Musa, Circa 1935 in a British Uniform.jpg
General Musa Khan, served as Commander-in-Chief of Pakistan Army

During the period of British colonial rule in the Indian subcontinent in the 19th century, Hazaras worked in coal mines, road construction, and other working-class jobs during the winter months in various cities of what is now Pakistan. The earliest record of Hazaras in Pakistan dates back to Broadfoot's Sappers Company, which was established in 1835 in Quetta and also participated in the First Anglo-Afghan War. Additionally, some Hazaras worked on agricultural farms in Sindh and contributed to the construction of the Sukkur Barrage.Template:Citation needed In 1962, the government of Pakistan officially recognized the Hazaras as one of the country's ethnic groups.<ref name=":1">Template:Cite book</ref>

Most Pakistani Hazaras are native to Balochistan. Localities in the city of Quetta with prominent Hazara populations include Hazara Town and Mariabad. The literacy level among the Hazara community in Pakistan is relatively high compared to that of Hazaras in Afghanistan, and they have integrated well into the local society's social dynamics. Saira Batool, a Hazara woman, was one of the first female pilots in the Pakistan Air Force. Other notable Hazaras include Qazi Muhammad Isa, General Musa Khan, who served as the fourth Commander-in-Chief of the Pakistan Army from 1958 to 1968, Air Marshal Sharbat Ali Changezi, who served in the Pakistan Air Force from 1949 to 1987, Hussain Ali Yousafi, the slain chairman of the Hazara Democratic Party,<ref>"Hussain Ali Yousafi, chairman of the Hazara Democratic Party'", BBC News, 26 January 2009</ref> and Sayed Nasir Ali Shah, a Member of the National Assembly from Quetta, along with his father Haji Sayed Hussain Hazara, who was a senator and member of the Pakistan Parliament during the Zia-ul-Haq era.Template:Citation needed

Despite this, Hazaras are often targeted by militant groups such as Lashkar-e-Jhangvi and others. Activists report that at least 800 to 1,000 Hazaras have been killed since 1999, and the pace is quickening. According to Human Rights Watch, more than one hundred have been murdered in and around Quetta since January.<ref name="Bigg" /> The political representation of the community is served by the Hazara Democratic Party, a secular liberal democratic party headed by Abdul Khaliq Hazara.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Iran

[edit]

Template:Further

File:Sulat al-Sultanah Hazara.jpg
Muhammad Yusuf Khan Hazara, also known as "Sulat al-Sultanah Hazara", a prominent Hazara leader and the first Sunni representative to serve in the Iranian Parliament

The Hazara people in Iran are also referred to as Khāwari (Template:Langx) or Barbari (Template:Lang).<ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref>Template:Citation</ref> Over many years, due to political unrest in Afghanistan, some Hazaras have migrated to Iran.<ref name="W.I.Smyth" /> Before Iran was forced to relinquish the Herat region according to the Treaty of Paris in 1857 during the reign of Naser al-Din Shah, the country possessed a much larger part of Greater Khorasan. One of the tribes that roamed this area prior to the cession was the Hazaras. After the border between Iran and Afghanistan was drawn, the tribe settled on both sides of the border. The leadership of this tribe at the end of the Qajar period and during the Pahlavi period was held by Muhammad Yusuf Khan Hazara, known as "Sulat al-Sultanah Hazara." He was a Sunni Hazara, a politician, and the first Sunni representative in the Iranian Parliament, as well as the only Sunni Iranian to represent Mashhad in the history of Iran's legislatures.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

India

[edit]

Template:Main Template:Expand section The Attarwala claim to be Hazaras who mainly inhabit the state of Gujarat, India. They are descended from a group of Mughal soldiers who were initially settled in Agra during the rule of Mughal Emperor Jahangir.<ref name="Mohideen-2003">Template:Cite book</ref> According to their recorded documents, they then migrated to Ahmedabad via Gwalior, Ratlam, and Godhra. This migration followed their participation in the community during the 1857 Indian War of Independence. Once settled in Gujarat, the community took up the occupation of manufacturing perfumes known as ittars.<ref name="Mohideen-2003" /> The term "attarwala" means "manufacturer of perfumes." A second migration occurred in 1947 from Agra after the partition of India, with some members immigrating to Pakistan, while others joined their co-ethnics in Ahmedabad.<ref name="Mohideen-2003" />

Diaspora

[edit]

Template:Main Alessandro Monsutti argues in his recent anthropological book<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> that migration is a traditional way of life for the Hazara people, referring to the seasonal and historical migrations that have never ceased and do not seem to be dictated solely by emergencies such as war.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> Due to decades of conflict in Afghanistan and sectarian violence in Pakistan, many Hazaras have left their communities and settled in Australia, New Zealand, Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, and particularly the Northern European countries such as Sweden and Denmark. Some migrate as exchange students, while others do so through human smuggling, which sometimes costs them their lives. Since 2001, about 1,000 people have died at sea while attempting to reach Australia by boat from Indonesia, many of whom were Hazaras.<ref name="Bigg">Template:Cite news</ref> A notable case was the Tampa affair, in which a shipload of refugees, mostly Hazaras, was rescued by the Norwegian freighter MV Tampa and subsequently sent to Nauru.<ref>Australia ships out Afghan refugees BBC News.</ref>

Culture and society

[edit]

Template:Main Template:Further

File:Hazara men from villages near Ghazni, 1840 (2).jpg
Clothing of Hazara men Template:Circa from villages near Ghazni. Painting by James Atkinson

Template:Multiple image

Hazara culture is a rich tapestry of customs, traditions, behaviors, beliefs, and norms that have evolved over centuries. This culture has developed through a series of interactions with and responses to the surrounding peoples and environments, ultimately shaping it into a distinct cultural identity. Today, Hazara culture stands out for its unique heritage, incorporating elements from both Central Asia and South Asia while maintaining its own distinctiveness. Outside of Hazarajat, many Hazara communities have embraced aspects of the local cultures in which they reside, often blending elements of Afghan Tajiks and Pashtuns traditions. However, in Hazarajat, the heart of Hazara culture, many of the original customs and traditions remain intact. These are more closely aligned with those of Central Asia than with the Afghan Tajiks, preserving the distinct cultural legacy of the Hazara people. Traditionally, the Hazara people have been highland farmers, skillfully cultivating the mountainous regions of their homeland. While most Hazaras live in permanent homes, certain groups, such as the Aimaq Hazara, continue to maintain a semi-nomadic lifestyle. These communities often live in felt yurts rather than traditional dwellings.<ref name="Latham-1859">Template:Cite book</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Citation</ref>

Before the conquest of Hazarajat by the Afghan ruler Abdur Rahman between 1888 and 1893, the Hazara society was structured a feudal system. The social hierarchy was dominated by influential landowners and powerful figures, such as Khan, Beig, Arbab, Mir, or Malik, who held authority over the land and society.<ref name=":1" /> Below them, the Clerics (Mullahs) and Sayyids held the second tier. The economy of Hazara was largely centered on agriculture and livestock, which formed the foundation of the region's prosperity.<ref name=":0" />

Attire

[edit]

Template:Main Template:Further Hazara attire plays a significant role in upholding the cultural, traditional, and social identity of the Hazara ethnicity. These garments are primarily handcrafted, reflecting the community's rich heritage. In Afghanistan, Hazara clothing is sewn in various regions, with a particular focus on the central provinces.<ref name="tebyan.net-2017">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="Encyclopædia Iranica">Template:Cite web</ref>

Male clothing

[edit]

Template:Further Hazara men traditionally wear a barak (also known as barag) alongside a hat, with the barak being a key element of Hazara clothing. This soft, thick garment is crafted from the first wool sheared from special sheep raised in the Hazarajat region, making it both luxurious and durable. Beyond its regal appearance, the Hazara barak serves a practical function as a warm winter garment. Its unique properties make it resistant to moisture, allowing it to stay dry even in snow and rain. Additionally, the softness of the fabric is believed to reduce muscle pain and offer relief for joint discomfort. In contemporary times, however, the perahan o tunban has become the most common attire among Hazara men, often worn with a hat or turban.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="Encyclopædia Iranica" /><ref name="tebyan.net-2017" />

Female clothing

[edit]

The traditional clothing of Hazara women includes a pleated skirt with a tunban or undergarment. The lower tunbans are made from fabrics such as flowered chits, while the upper skirts are crafted from finer materials like velvet, zari, or net, often adorned with a border or decoration at the bottom. The women's shirt is calf-length, with a close collar and long sleeves, featuring slits on both sides that fit over the skirts, which are appreciated for their modesty in accordance with Islamic customs. Hazara women's clothing varies according to social, economic, and age factors. Young Hazara women typically wear outfits made from different fabrics in vibrant colors and cheerful designs, complemented by beautiful and colorful chadors. In contrast, older women prefer darker fabrics with simple black and white patterns. Hazara women's chadors or head coverings are often embellished with ornaments, typically made of silver or gold, and sometimes paired with a hat. The adornments on their clothing include silver or gold necklace with colorful beads, buttons, bangles, and silver or gold bracelets.<ref name="tebyan.net-2017" /><ref name="Encyclopædia Iranica" />

Headgear

[edit]

Template:Further Hazara people have a rich tradition of wearing distinct headgear, with styles varying for men and women. These hats and caps come in various forms, with some made from animal skin, while others are crafted from barak. Additionally, some Hazara men wear the traditional Khorasan turban.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Cuisine

[edit]

Template:Main Template:Further The Hazara cuisine is deeply influenced by Central Asian, South Asian, and Persian culinary traditions. Despite these influences, the Hazaras have developed a distinctive food culture, with unique dishes, cooking techniques, and flavors specific to their community. Hospitality plays a central role in their dining etiquette, and it is customary to prepare special meals when hosting guests.Template:Citation needed

Language

[edit]

Template:Main The Hazaras speak Dari and Hazaragi, eastern dialects of the Persian language.<ref name="Attitudes Towards Hazaragi">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="Kieffer">Template:Cite encyclopedia</ref><ref name="Monsutti-2017">Template:Citation</ref><ref name=":2" />

According to the Encyclopaedia of Islam, Hazaragi is a dialect of Persian infused with many Turkic and some Mongolic words or loanwords.<ref name="Monsutti-2017"/> The Encyclopædia Britannica describes Hazaragi as an eastern variety of Persian containing numerous Mongolic and Turkic words.<ref>"Hazara people • Britannica" In English: "The Hazara speak an eastern variety of Persian called Hazaragi with many Mongolic and Turkic words."</ref> Similarly, Encyclopaedia Iranica notes that Hazaras speak a Persian dialect with many Turkic and some Mongolic words.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="Iranica-Afghanistan">Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Malistani, A. H. Tariq and Gehring, Roman (compilers) (1993) Farhang-i ibtidal-i milli-i Hazarah : bi-inzimam-i tarjamah bih Farsi-i Ingilisi = Hazaragi – Dari/Persian- English: a preliminary glossary A. H. Tariq Malistani, Quetta, Template:OCLC</ref><ref>Farhadi, A. G. Ravan (1955). Le persan parlé en Afghanistan: Grammaire du kâboli accompagnée d'un recuil de quatrains populaires de la région de Kâbol. Paris.</ref> Other sources describe the Hazara population as speaking Persian with some Mongolic words.<ref name="Atif Adnan" /><ref name="Haber-2012"/> An Iranica article on the language of Hazaras states that the dialect consists of three linguistic layers: (1) pre-Mongol Persian, with its own substratum; (2) Mongolian; and (3) modern Tajiki, preserving elements of both (1) and (2).<ref name="Kieffer" /> The primary difference between Persian and Hazaragi lies in the accent.<ref name="Kieffer" /> Despite these variations, Hazaragi remains mutually intelligible with Dari,<ref name="Attitudes Towards Hazaragi" /> the official language of Afghanistan.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

According to Dr. Lutfi Temirkhanov, a Doctor of Sciences, the ancestors of the Hazaras were originally Mongol-speaking.<ref name="Temirkhanov"/><ref name="TemirkhanovLutfi"/> However, following their resettlement, they began to intermingle with Persian- and Turkic-speaking populations. Despite this, no historical documents have been found that refer to "Mongol Hazaras," and no scholar has encountered Mongol-speaking Hazaras to date.<ref name="Mousavi-1998a"/> Temirkhanov explains, "Hordes of Mongol princes and feudal lords found themselves in a Persian-speaking environment; they mixed with them, were influenced by Persian-Tajik culture, and gradually adopted the Persian language."<ref>Temirkhanov L. (1968). "О некоторых спорных вопросах этнической истории хазарейского народа". Советская этнография. 1. P. 93-94. In Russian: "орды монгольских царевичей и феодалов оказались в таджикском окружении; они смешивались с таджиками, подвергались влиянию персидско-таджикской культуры и постепенно принимали язык таджиков, отсюда и таджикская речь хазарейцев".</ref> However, this claim is highly doubtful and unacceptable, as no firsthand documents or evidence have been found to indicate that Genghis Khan or his commanders ordered their forces to settle in the region now known as Hazarajat.<ref name="Mousavi-1998-35"/> Some sources indicate that in the 16th century, during the time of Babur, some Hazaras still spoke a Mongolian language.<ref name="Массон, Ромодин" /><ref name="Bartold" /><ref name="Iranica" /> According to the Great Russian Encyclopedia and other sources, some Hazaras continued to speak Mongolian until the 19th century.<ref name="bigenc" /><ref name="Vámbéry" /><ref name="Petrushevsky" /><ref name="Forensic Science International" /> While historically no one has yet succeeded in finding Mongol-speaking Hazaras, nor has any scholar come across Mongol-speaking Hazaras.<ref name="Mousavi-1998-31"/><ref name="Mousavi-1998a"/> Temirkhanov notes that Mongolic words make up about 10% of the Hazara vocabulary.<ref> Temirkhanov L. (1968). "О некоторых спорных вопросах этнической истории хазарейского народа". Советская этнография. 1. P. 91. In Russian: "монгольские элементы составляют 10% хазарейской лексики".</ref> Approximately 20 percent of the Hazara vocabulary consists of Turkic and Mongolic words, with Turkic terms making up the majority.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref name="Monsutti-2017"/>

Religion

[edit]

Template:Further

File:The Hazara people of Daykundi in September 20, 2009.jpg
A gathering of Hazaras on the final day of Ramadan in Daikundi Province

Hazaras predominantly practice Islam, with most adhering to Shi'a Islam, a significant portion following Sunni Islam, and smaller groups practicing Isma'ili and Non-denominational Islam.<ref name="culturalorientation">The Afghans, Their History and Culture, Religion Template:Webarchive</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="شناسنامه الکترونیکی">Template:Cite web</ref> The majority of Afghanistan's population practices Sunni Islam, which may have contributed to the discrimination Hazaras face.<ref name="Khazeni-2003" />

Shia Hazaras

[edit]

Template:Expand section There is no definitive theory regarding the acceptance of Shi'a Islam by the majority of Hazaras. It is possible that most Hazaras adopted Shi'a Islam in the early 16th century, during the initial years of the Safavid dynasty.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref name="culturalorientation" /><ref name="شناسنامه الکترونیکی" />

Sunni Hazaras

[edit]
File:شیر محمد خان هزاره.jpg
Sher Muhammad Khan Hazara, the chieftain of the Sunni Hazaras from Qala-e-Naw, Badghis

Sunni Hazaras have practiced Sunni Islam for a long time, predating the Afghan Amir, Abdul Rahman's occupation of Hazara lands. However, some were forcefully converted from Shi'a to Sunni Islam following Abdur Rahman's occupation and the Hazara genocide. In Afghanistan, they primarily inhabit the provinces of Baghlan, Badghis, Ghor, Kunduz, Panjshir, Bamyan, Badakhshan, Parwan, and Kabul.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

Sher Muhammad Khan Hazara, a Sunni Hazara and chieftain of the Hazaras of Qala-e-Naw, Badghis, was a warlord who participated in the Sunni coalition that defended Herat in 1837. He was also one of those who defeated British forces around Qandahar and in the Maiwand desert during the First Anglo-Afghan War (1838–1842).<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

During the 1996-2001 Afghan Civil War, the Taliban also forcefully converted Shia Hazaras into Sunni.<ref>How We Missed the Story: Osama Bin Laden, the Taliban, and the Hijacking of Afghanistan, Roy Gutman, 2008, pp. 138-141</ref>

Isma'ili Hazaras

[edit]

Isma'ili Hazaras primarily reside in the provinces of Kabul, Parwan, Baghlan, Bamyan, Maidan Wardak, Samangan, and Zabul. They have historically been separated from other Hazaras due to religious beliefs and political reasons.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

Hazara tribes

[edit]

Template:Main

File:Emir Khwaja.gif
A miniature of Emir Muhammad Khwaja

The Hazara people are organized into various tribes. Some prominent Hazara tribes include Sheikh Ali, Jaghori, Jaghatu, Qara Baghi, Muhammad Khwaja, Behsudi, Dai Mirdad, Turkmani, Uruzgani, Daikundi, Daizangi, Daichopan, Daizinyat, Qarlugh, Aimaq Hazara, and others.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Art

[edit]
File:Dawood Sarkhush.jpg
Dawood Sarkhosh, a folklore Hazara musician
File:Faiz Muhammad Kateb Hazara.jpg
Faiz Muhammad Kateb, a prominent writer and historian

Writers and poets

[edit]

Some well-known Hazara writers and poets include Faiz Muhammad Kateb, Amir Khosrow Dehlavi, Ismael Balkhi, Hassan Poladi, Kazim Yazdani, Ali Mohaqiq Nasab, Kamran Mir Hazar, Basir Ahang, Sayed Askar Mousavi, Ali Baba Taj, Sayed Abutalib Mozaffari, Rahnaward Zaryab, and Aziz Royesh, among others.

Music

[edit]

Template:Further Many Hazara musicians are widely recognized for their skill in playing the dambura, a native lute instrument also found in other Central Asian countries such as Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan. Notable Hazara musicians and dambura players include Sarwar Sarkhosh, Dawood Sarkhosh, Safdar Tawakoli, and Sayed Anwar Azad, among others.<ref name="Latham-1859" /> Revolutionary hymns are particularly common in Hazara dambura music, with Sarwar Sarkhosh being the first singer to popularize them. His main message centered on the uprising of the younger generation and the fight against oppression.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Additionally, the ghaychak, a traditional field instrument, is played similarly to a fiddle. Its resonance bowl is typically made from walnuts or berries, and its strings are metal, making it one of the stringed instruments in Hazara music.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Renowned Pakistani musician Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan is also a descendant of the Hazaras of Afghanistan.Template:Citation needed

Cinema

[edit]
File:Shamila Shirzad.jpg
Shamila Shirzad, actress

Some well-known Hazara actors and actresses are Hussain Sadiqi, Abid Ali Nazish, Shamila Shirzad, Nikbakht Noruz, and others.

Sports

[edit]

Template:Further

File:Rohullah Nikpai speaking in 2012.jpg
Rohullah Nikpai, two-time Olympic bronze medalist in the sport of Taekwondo
File:Hussain Sadiqi.jpg
Hussain Sadiqi, a martial artist and actor

Many Hazaras engage in various sports, including football, volleyball, wrestling, martial arts, boxing, karate, taekwondo, judo, wushu, Jujitsu, cricket, tennis, and more. Pahlawan Ebrahim Khedri, a 62 kg wrestler, was the national champion in Afghanistan for two decades. Another famous Hazara wrestler, Wakil Hussain Allahdad, was killed in the suicide bombing in Dashte Barchi, Kabul, on 22 April 2018.<ref>Template:Cite newsTemplate:Cbignore</ref><ref>Template:Cite newsTemplate:Cbignore</ref>

Rohullah Nikpai, won a bronze medal in Taekwondo at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, defeating world champion Juan Antonio Ramos of Spain 4–1 in the playoff final. This achievement marked Afghanistan's first-ever Olympic medal. He then won a second Olympic medal for Afghanistan at the London 2012 Games.Template:Citation needed

Another notable Hazara athlete, Sayed Abdul Jalil Waiz, was the first badminton player to represent Afghanistan in the Asian Junior Championships in 2005, where he secured the first win for his country against Iraq with scores of 15–13 and 15–1. He has participated in several international championships since 2005, achieving victories against competitors from Australia, the Philippines, and Mongolia. Hamid Rahimi is a Hazara boxer from Afghanistan who currently lives in Germany. Hussain Sadiqi is a Hazara Australian martial artist who won an award for the best fight scene in an Australian-made action movie.

Hazara football players include Zohib Islam Amiri, who currently plays for the Afghanistan national football team; Moshtaq Yaqoubi, an Afghan-Finnish footballer who plays for HIFK; Mustafa Amini, a Hazara Australian footballer who plays as a midfielder for Danish Superliga club AGF and the Australian national team; Rahmat Akbari, an Australian footballer who plays as a midfielder for Brisbane Roar. Other notable players include Rohullah Iqbalzada, Omran Haydary, Zelfy Nazary, Moshtaq Ahmadi, and Zahra Mahmoodi.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Some Hazaras from Pakistan have also excelled in sports and received numerous awards, particularly in boxing, football, and field hockey.

Pakistani Hazara Abrar Hussain, a former Olympic boxer, served as the deputy director-general of the Pakistan Sports Board. He represented Pakistan three times at the Olympics and won a gold medal at the 1990 Asian Games in Beijing. Another Hazara boxer from Pakistan is Haider Ali, a Commonwealth Games gold medalist and Olympian who is currently retired.

Former captain of the Pakistan national football team, Qayyum Changezi, was the second Pakistani footballer to score a hat trick in an international game.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> New Hazara youngsters are emerging in football in Pakistan, mostly from Quetta, including Muhammad Ali and Rajab Ali Hazara.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Another notable figure is Kulsoom Hazara, a celebrated Pakistani karate champion who has earned numerous gold, silver, and bronze medals at both national and international levels. She has also been honored with the prestigious Pride of Pakistan Award.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Other notable Hazara athletes in karate include Nargis Hameedullah, who made history as the first Pakistani woman to win a bronze medal at the Asian Games in karate,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and Shahida Abbasi, a gold medalist and the first Pakistani woman to represent the country internationally in kata.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Cultural sports

[edit]

The cultural sports of the Hazara people are those that have been passed down through generations from their ancestors.

Buzkashi

[edit]

Template:Main

File:Buzkashi (5458890874).jpg
Buzkashi in Afghanistan

Buzkashi is a Central Asian sport in which horse-mounted players attempt to place a goat or calf carcass into a goal. It is the national sport of Afghanistan and is one of the cultural sports of the Hazara people, who continue to practice this sport in Afghanistan.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Tirandāzi

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Template:Further Tirandāzi is a form of archery and an ancient cultural sport of the Hazaras.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Pahlawani

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Template:Further Pahlawani, or Kushti, is a traditional wrestling sport practiced by the Hazaras. It has a long history in Afghanistan and is particularly significant among the Hazara community. During holidays, Pahlawani fields are set up for competitions, which are held across different age groups. This cultural sport features its own unique techniques. Due to its ancient roots and familiarity, Pahlawani has been passed down from generation to generation among the Hazaras.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Notable people

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See also

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Template:Hazara people

References

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Further reading

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Template:Hazara nationalism Template:Iranian peoples Template:Mongol ethnic groups Template:Turkic peoples Template:Authority control

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