Young Shia Hazara Man Killed in Land Dispute as Sectarian Tensions Mount in Maidan Wardak

Young Shia Hazara Man Killed in Land Dispute as Sectarian Tensions Mount in Maidan Wardak
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A young Shia Hazara man was shot dead by armed nomads in Maidan Wardak amid ongoing land disputes, reflecting deepening sectarian violence under Taliban rule. Rights groups warn of escalating attacks against the Hazara minority and urge stronger protections.

More details in this report:
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A young Shia Hazara man was fatally shot by armed nomads in Afghanistan’s Maidan Wardak province, in an incident that underscores deepening sectarian and ethnic tensions. The Hazara community, predominantly Shia, has long faced systematic persecution in Sunni-majority Afghanistan, a reality that has worsened under Taliban rule.

According to local sources, Mojtaba Naqawi, a young Hazara farmer, was killed on Tuesday, July 29, 2025, in the Shahr-e-Naw area of Hisa-I-Awal Bihsud district. He was reportedly trying to prevent nomads from grazing livestock on his farmland when the confrontation turned violent.

This killing reflects the broader pattern of targeted violence against the Shia Hazara population—an ethnic and religious minority that has historically faced discrimination and marginalization. In areas like Behsud and neighboring Bamyan, land disputes between Hazara villagers and nomadic Pashtun tribes have often erupted into conflict, frequently with deadly consequences.

Since the Taliban’s return to power in 2021, rights organizations such as Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have documented a sharp increase in attacks on Hazaras, including bombings, executions, kidnappings, and systemic intimidation. The Taliban’s failure to protect the Shia minority—or, in some cases, alleged complicity—has raised international alarm.

Advocacy groups continue to urge immediate measures to safeguard Afghanistan’s Shia Hazaras, calling for conflict mediation, land rights protections, and international accountability to prevent further sectarian violence.