Thread by @HappySi79054951

HAZARAS OF AFGHANISTAN

4 million strong, predominantly Shia Muslim community and Afghanistan's most educated, progressive and highly threatened and persecuted ethnic groups of Afghanistan.

Hazaras kind of resemble Kashmiri people in their almost similar traditional attaire, which along with their culture and language (dialect of Farsi) is called "Hazaragi", an almost proud cultural tradition as "Pashtunwali" of Afghan Pashtuns/Pakhtoons.

Hazaras are said to be of Mongol origin mixed with Central Asian Turkic tribes (Uzbeks, Turkman etc.) While most follow Shia (twelver Imam) faith, many also follow Ismaili/Aga Khani sect. There is also a small Sunni Hazara community.

There are about 1 million Hazara in Balochistan (Queta) province of Pakistan, where they are regularly butchered and massacred by Sunni religious extremist terrorist organizations of Pakistan (mostly from Punjab). In Pakistan, Hazara are easily identified by their distinct looks.

Hazaras are among most literate, well educated, progressive and forward looking ethnic groups of Afghanistan. Most of doctors, engineers and other professionals in Afghanistan are from Hazara community. Off late, Hazaras have been targeted of anti Shia violence in Afghanistan too

Lastly,

In recent years many Hazaras have escaped both Afghanistan and Pakistan because of anti Shia sectarian violence. In Afghanistan, they were target of both Taliban & Afghan ISIS, who regularly bombed Shia shrines and massacred Hazaras. They remain most vulnerable groups.