03/21/2023
By Jason Carter
The College of Fine Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences, Department of Peace and Conflict Studies, invites you to a thesis defense by student Bahara Hussaini entitled, "Repression against Hazaras in Afghanistan: An Analysis of Causes and Effects."
Date: Tuesday, April 4, 2023
Time: 1-3 p.m.
Location: McGauvran 310
Committee Members:
- Thawnghmung Ardeth (Chair)
- Paula M. Rayman
- Venessa J. Gray
Abstract
This paper analyzes the root causes of the oppression and discrimination against the Hazara people, a Shia minority group in the Sunni majority of Afghanistan. It shows that Hazara people have been subject to systematic discrimination and repression by both state and non-state actors since the early 19th century due to their ethnicity, religious beliefs, and a long-established history of high levels of resistance against the state. However, this paper argues that the nature, level, and intensity of repression against them have varied depending on the types of government in power, and the socio-economic status of the Hazaras people. The US-installed government in Afghanistan in 2001, for instance, has been associated with expanded political space as well as the emergence of vibrant civil societal activism among the Hazara people to advocate for minority rights and the promotion of democracy. The Taliban’s takeover of government in 2021 has not only undermined the prospect of democracy, human rights, and women's rights in Afghanistan but has also worsened the situations of many Hazara people in the country.