Two Hazara Shi’a Women Describe Taliban Violence and Vulnerability in Yakawlang and Bamiyan
Two Hazara Shi’a Women Describe Taliban Violence and Vulnerability in Yakawlang and Bamiyan
————————————-
Two Hazara Shi’a women from Yakawlang and Bamiyan provinces in Afghanistan have recounted harrowing experiences of threats, pressure, and violent behavior by local Taliban officials. Their accounts highlight how households headed by women, single mothers, and young children are particularly exposed to intimidation and harassment.
According to Shia Waves Agency, one woman, identifying herself as the mother of Abbas Hussain, said that about twenty days ago, after her son had gone out, armed local officials raided their home. She stated that the intruders entered with “whips and guns,” claiming they were searching for weapons. She added, “Our house was without male guardians. We had a one-year-old child. Yet, repeatedly and without justification, they broke down our doors and subjected us to pressure.” She said several families in the neighborhood have either fled or live in fear and silence due to similar harassment.
The second woman described a comparable ordeal. Local officials reportedly entered her home violently, confiscated belongings, and beat her husband while demanding he produce a “nonexistent weapon.” She said her family was repeatedly threatened, and officials seized her husband’s motorcycle, warning of further raids. “We had neither weapons nor committed any crime, yet the fear of repeated attacks has deprived us of normal life,” she said.
Both women emphasized that many families in the region live daily under fear, displacement, and insecurity, with no institutions available to offer protection or support.
The incidents reflect a broader pattern of harassment and violence targeting the Shia Community in Afghanistan. Recent reports, such as a 2025 submission by the Hazara Council of Great Britain (HCGB), document widespread persecution under the current Taliban regime — including forced evictions and land confiscations in provinces like Bamiyan, denial of humanitarian aid, exclusion from public services, and systematic discrimination.
According to European Union Agency for Asylum, International asylum‑policy assessments also note structural discrimination: many Hazaras lack access to justice, face obstacles in obtaining basic services or official documents, and risk arbitrary arrest or violence.
