Canada must call out Afghanistan’s poor human rights record, seek justice for persecuted minority Hazaras

A suicide bombing that killed the relatives of an Ottawa man in Afghanistan highlights the ripple effects of the ongoing persecution of ethnic Hazaras in the war-torn nation.

Right, Ottawa-based Yasir Mehrzad and family at Canada Day celebrations on Parliament Hill. Left, Mr. Mehrzad’s late father, Gulam Sakhi Allahdad, in his obituary photograph. He died in a suicide attack at a voter registration centre in Afghanistan on April 22.Photographs courtesy of Ali Mirzad

Opinion

BY ALI MIRZAD

May 3, 2018

In 1998, at the height of their barbaric rule, the Taliban issued a fatwa, a religious declaration, against the innocent Hazaras of Afghanistan, accusing them of being infidels worthy of being killed wherever and whenever. Killing Hazaras, by the Taliban’s interpretation of Islam, would guarantee ...

To keep reading, subscribe and become a political insider.

Only $7.76 a week for an annual subscription.

Enjoy unlimited website access and the digital newspaper.

Cancel anytime.

Already a Subscriber?

Get Weekend Point of View Newsletter

A round up of the past weekâ€™s opinion writers and columnists on Saturdays and Sundays.

By entering your email address you consent to receive email from The Hill Times containing news, analysis, updates and offers. You may unsubscribe at any time. See our privacy policy