Mundarakht massacre

Last updated
Mundarakht massacre
Part of War in Afghanistan, Persecution of Hazaras, Anti-Shi'ism
LocationMundarakht, Malistan district, Ghazni province, Afghanistan
Target Hazaras
Attack type
Shooting, Torture, Mutilation, Strangulation
Deaths9
Victims
  • Wahed Qaraman, 45
  • Jaffar Rahimi, 63
  • Sayed Abdul Hakim, 40
  • Ali Jan Tata, 65
  • Zia Faqeer Shah, 23
  • Ghulam Rasool Reza, 53
  • Sayeed Ahmad, 75
  • Zia Marefat, 28
  • Karim Baksh Karimi, 45
Perpetrators Taliban
Motive Persecution of Hazaras

From July 4 to July 6, 2021, the Taliban carried out a series of killings in the village of Mundarakht, situated in the Ghazni Province of Afghanistan, targeting Hazara men. [1] The killings were condemned and shock was expressed at the savagery of killings, especially when it was revealed that the Taliban used torture in order to kill the men. [2]

Contents

Background

Hazaras have been a persecuted minority in Afghanistan since the 1800s [3] from the reign of Abdur Rahman Khan and the 1888–1893 Hazara uprisings. Since then, the Hazara community has faced constant persecution since then, including the 21st century. [4]

Despite improvement of conditions after the topple of the Taliban regime in 2001, conditions worsened after the Taliban victory, with the Taliban continuing their persecution of the Hazara minority. [5]

Prior to the killings, the families of Mundarakht were forced to flee to the mountains, when they returned, they came to see their houses looted and the aftermath of a massacre. [2]

Killings

Wahed Qaraman, 45, was taken out of house by Taliban fighters, who then proceeded to break his limbs, shoot him in the leg, pull his hair out and beat his face with a blunt object. [2]

Jaffar Rahimi, 63, was accused by Taliban fighters of working for the Afghan government when money was found in his pocket, Taliban fighters then strangled him with his own scarf and carved off his arm muscles before he finally died. [2]

Sayed Abdul Hakim, 40, was taken from his house by Taliban fighters who then beat him with sticks and rifle butts with his arms bound and was shot twice in the leg and twice in the chest before the Taliban fighters dumped his body next to a nearby creek. [2]

AlI Jan Tata, Zia Faqeer Shah, Ghulam Rasool Reza, 65, 23, 53 respectively - shot as they attempted to reach their homes in the nearby hamlet of Wuli. [2]

Sayeed Ahmad, 75, was assured by Taliban fighters that they would not harm him as he was elderly and were permitted to feed his cattle, but Taliban fighters proceeded to shoot him in his chest and side. [2]

Zia Marefat, 28, suffered from depression and did not leave his house to go to safety, was then eventually convinced by his mother to flee, but when he tried, he was captured by the Taliban and shot in the temple, killing him. [2]

Karim Baksh Karimi, 45, had an undiagnosed mental health condition which lead to him acting erratically. The Taliban fighters then executed him by shooting him in the head. [2]

Reactions

The Taliban defended their actions, stating “When it is the time of conflict, everyone dies, it doesn't matter if you have guns or not. It is the time of war.” [6]

Amnesty International's Secretary-General Agnès Callamard said: "The cold-blooded brutality of these killings is a reminder of the Taliban's past record, and a horrifying indicator of what Taliban rule may bring." [6]

See also

Related Research Articles

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

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Taliban</span> Militant organization in control of Afghanistan

The Taliban, which also refers to itself by its state name, the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, is an Afghan militant movement with an ideology comprising elements of Pashtun nationalism and the Deobandi movement of Islamic fundamentalism. It ruled approximately 75% of the country from 1996 to 2001, before it was overthrown by an American invasion. It recaptured Kabul in August 2021 following the departure of coalition forces, after 20 years of Taliban insurgency, and now controls all the country. The Taliban government is not recognized by any country and has been internationally condemned for restricting human rights, including for women to work and have an education.

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The Hazaras have long been the subjects of persecution in Afghanistan. The Hazaras are mostly from Afghanistan, primarily from the central regions of Afghanistan, known as Hazarajat. Significant communities of Hazara people also live in Quetta, Pakistan and in Mashad, Iran, as part of the Hazara and Afghan diasporas.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Islamic State–Taliban conflict</span> 2015–present armed conflict in Afghanistan

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References

  1. "Taliban responsible for massacre of nine Hazara men: Amnesty". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 2023-11-25.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 "Afghanistan: Taliban responsible for brutal massacre of Hazara men – new investigation". Amnesty International. 2021-08-19. Retrieved 2023-11-25.
  3. "The Hazara Genocide and Systemic Discrimination in Afghanistan". The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights. Retrieved 2023-11-25.
  4. "Urgent Action Needed: Hazaras in Afghanistan Under Attack - United States Holocaust Memorial Museum". www.ushmm.org. 2022-08-10. Retrieved 2023-11-25.
  5. Watch, Genocide (2023-08-07). "Taliban oppression of women and Genocide of Hazaras". genocidewatch. Retrieved 2023-11-25.
  6. 1 2 "Taliban 'tortured and massacred' Afghan men". BBC News. 2021-08-20. Retrieved 2023-11-25.