The Taliban’s swift takeover of Afghanistan pushed Afghans, especially those from minority groups, to a precarious situation. This continued during the period under review. Alongside other extremist groups like the Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISKP), the Taliban are accused of subjecting minorities to brutal attacks, casting doubts over the protection of minority groups from violence and terror. Despite Taliban officials’ initial statements that they have reformed elements of their 1990s ideology and their pledges of moderation, the future for minority groups appears bleak. After one year of their takeover of Afghanistan, minority groups are struggling to survive. The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan 2022 mid-year report recorded 2106 civilian casualties, which means, considering the concept of minority in the context of Afghanistan under the Taliban, a huge percentage of casualties are from minority groups. Their physical existence is in danger because of their identity as they are not recognised as equal to Pashtun citizens. Besides, they are not represented in the cabinet and in public administration.
Less than a month following the fall of Kabul, the Taliban announced their interim government, declaring the country an ‘Islamic Emirate’ aiming to enforce Sharia law. In September 2021, they introduced their cabinet with no representation from ethno-religious minority groups or women.The judicial system was replaced with field courts in provinces and verdicts of former courts were invalidated. Forced displacement in non-Pashtun resident areas began to increase. Forced redress of already resolved disputes are implemented either by the Taliban or by their affiliates in the north and central areas of the country. The humanitarian crisis in the country has exacerbated sufferings of the minority groups, especially of civilians displaced due to internal strife.
Despite having lived in the country for centuries, some minority groups like Afghan Kyrgyz, Sikhs and Hindus are trying to leave the country. Of the estimated 100,000 Sikhs and Hindus in 1970, only 140 remain and their lives are under threat. A deadly explosion in a Sikh prayer site in Kabul in June 2022 left one worshiper dead and several injured. Marginalisation of the Hazara religious minority of Shia Muslims is also steadily mounting. Ashura, a commemoration day for Shia Muslims, was a national holiday under the former government but not anymore under the Taliban. Additionally, several deadly attacks on this minority group has put them at risk of genocide since the Taliban takeover.
Religious and ethnic minority groups’ displacement, lack of access to social services such as health care, shelter, education, welfare, and humanitarian aid in Afghanistan is another major concern. Thousands of Uzbeks and Turkmens in Faryab province displaced during the conflict between the Taliban and the former government in northern areas of the country are still suffering. Their shelters were destroyed, and they do not have even enough food to eat. Hazaras who lost their everything in recent floods in Ghazni instead of receiving immediate assistance for living, are forced to pay ushur and zakat.
The Taliban takeover also resulted in the dominance of one minority group over others. Since August 2021, Kochi nomads, who enjoy support from the Taliban, have violated the rights of other minority groups. In Hazara-dominated areas of Ghazni province, they have turned school buildings into cattle sheds while students do not have classrooms. In Takhar, Kochi nomads live in homes of local Tajik ethnic group under order of the Taliban. In August, armed Kochi nomads attacked Hazaras in Daikundi province to grab their lands.
The larger minority groups, Tajiks and Hazaras, who have resisted the Taliban, have been discriminated against by the Taliban. Several cases show that civilians belonging to these two minority groups have been subjected to incommunicado detentions, torture, extrajudicial killings and forced displacement. In August, the Taliban set on fire Tajik homes in Panjshir province. They arbitrarily arrested 25 civilians and have forcibly displaced people in Abdullah Khil district of this province.
Afghans belonging to the LGBTQIA+ community who do not conform to rigid gender norms in Afghanistan are also deprived of their rights. The Taliban Sharia law does not recognise LGBTIA+ rights. The group has increasingly reported grave threats to their lives and safety. They fled their homes from attacks and threats from the Taliban after the fall of Kabul.