Hindus In Afghanistan: Navigating Religious Stereotypes And Discrimination

Afghanistan is an Islamic state, with most citizens following Sunni Islam. However, historically, Afghanistan was home to a diverse range of religions, including Hinduism, Buddhism, and Zoroastrianism. While Hinduism once thrived in Afghanistan, particularly in Pashtun areas, the population of Hindus has been steadily declining since the 1970s. Today, there are only a few dozen Hindus remaining in the country, mostly living in the cities of Kabul and Jalalabad. Afghan Hindus have faced religious persecution, discrimination, and forced conversion at the hands of Muslims, leading to their dwindling numbers. During the Taliban's rule from 1996 to 2001, Hindus were forced to wear yellow badges in public to identify themselves as non-Muslims, and women were required to wear burqas. Despite the challenges, Afghan Hindus strongly identify with their national identity and consider Afghanistan as their ancestral homeland.

Historical presence of Hinduism in Afghanistan

Afghanistan, a country whose name means "the place inhabited by allied tribes" in Sanskrit, was once home to a diverse medley of religious practices, including Hinduism. The Hindu connection to the region goes back to ancient history, with the earliest mention of the region found in the Hindu sacred texts, the Vedas.

Much of Afghanistan was once part of an ancient kingdom known as Gandhara, which also covered parts of northern Pakistan. The names of many Afghan provinces, though slightly altered, are Sanskrit in origin, such as Balkh, Nangarhar, and Kabul. Gandhara is also described in the Hindu epics the Mahabharata and Ramayana as the kingdom of queen Gandhari, whose son Duryodhana fought and lost a great war to his cousins, the Pandavas.

Gandhara was a hub of Hindu and Buddhist learning, home to one of the world's earliest universities. It attracted students from across the ancient world, including some of history's greatest minds, such as Charaka, an Ayurvedic physician, Panini, a Sanskrit grammarian, and Chandragupta Maurya, the founder of the Mauryan Empire.

The region was conquered by Muslim Arabs in the 7th century, and the Hindu Shahi kings of Kabul and Gandhara were the last great Hindu rulers of Afghanistan. They built numerous temples and religious monuments throughout the region. However, the eastward expansion of Muslim forces from Ghazni in the 11th century ended the Hindu Shahi dynasty, and Hinduism went into a sharp decline, surviving alongside Sikhism.

In the 1970s, there were about 700,000 Hindus in Afghanistan, but this number fell dramatically due to religious persecution and discrimination. Today, Afghanistan's Hindu population is tiny, with only about 30-40 individuals remaining in the country as of 2021.

Reasons for the decline of the Hindu population

Afghanistan has a long history of religious diversity, with Zoroastrianism, Hinduism, and Buddhism being the primary religions in the region before the introduction of Islam in the 7th century. Since then, the country has become an Islamic state, with around 90% of the population following Sunni Islam.

Religious Persecution and Discrimination

The introduction and spread of Islam in Afghanistan led to the religious persecution and forced conversion of Hindus. During the rule of different Islamic empires and regimes, such as the Ghaznavids, the Taliban, and the Mujahideen, Hindus faced discrimination, harassment, and violence. They were forced to wear yellow badges or armbands in public to identify themselves as non-Muslims, and their properties were taken away. Hindus also faced challenges in practicing their funeral rites and cremation ceremonies due to interference and threats of violence from locals.

Rise of Islam and Taliban Insurgency

The gradual spread of Islam across Afghanistan, particularly with the arrival of the Rashidun Caliphate in the 7th century, led to the decline of Hinduism in the region. The Taliban's rise to power and their imposition of their strict interpretation of Islam further contributed to the exodus of Hindus from the country. The continued Islamization and Taliban insurgency created an environment hostile to religious minorities.

Social Exclusion and Economic Factors

Hindus in Afghanistan faced social exclusion and discrimination in various aspects of their lives, including education and employment. Hindu children faced harassment and teasing in public schools, leading to their withdrawal from classes. Additionally, economic factors, such as a lack of employment opportunities and increasing poverty, also played a role in the decline of the Hindu population.

Political and Legal Factors

The establishment of Islam as the official state religion and the lack of legal protections for religious minorities contributed to the decline of the Hindu population. Laws and policies discriminated against non-Muslims, and courts often denied them equal access and rights. The penal code includes provisions that criminalize verbal and physical assaults on followers of any religion, and conversion from Islam is considered apostasy, punishable by death or imprisonment.

Security Threats and Conflict

The ongoing conflict and security threats in Afghanistan have also contributed to the exodus of Hindus. The country has experienced civil war, the Soviet invasion, and the rise of extremist groups like the Taliban and ISIS-K, which have all created an unstable and dangerous environment for religious minorities.

Treatment of Hindus under Taliban rule

Afghan Hindus and Sikhs have lived in the country for centuries, with their roots in Ghazni and Kabul. However, the Taliban's rise to power in 2021 has thrown the lives of these religious minorities into disarray. The Islamic fundamentalist group has stated that minorities will be safe, but past experiences and broken promises have left them wary.

During the first Taliban regime in the 1990s, Hindus and Sikhs were subjected to various forms of discrimination and persecution. They were forced to wear yellow badges to identify them as non-Muslims, prevented from building new temples, and had to pay additional taxes for not being Muslim. They were also harassed, threatened, and forcefully occupied by the Sunni majority population. Their children faced discrimination and bullying in schools.

Under the new Taliban regime, Sikhs and Hindus fear a return to these oppressive measures. They have already faced harsh restrictions on their appearance and have been banned from celebrating religious holidays in public. Fari Kaur, one of the last Sikhs remaining in Kabul, says she is forced to "dress like a Muslim" to avoid identification and that she "cannot go anywhere". The Taliban's implementation of Sharia law is expected to further increase intolerance towards Hindus and Sikhs.

The number of Hindus and Sikhs in Afghanistan has significantly declined over the years. From a few hundred thousand during the 1980s, their population has reduced to a few hundred today. Many have fled the country due to persecution and insecurity, with some seeking asylum in India. However, India's inconsistent asylum policies and the lack of a clear refugee status have left many in a precarious situation.

The future of Afghan Hindus and Sikhs under the Taliban remains uncertain. While the Taliban has recently pledged to protect minority rights and restore properties to displaced Hindus and Sikhs, there is scepticism about their ability to ensure the safety and well-being of these communities.

Societal discrimination and violence faced by Hindus

Societal discrimination and violence have been a persistent issue for Hindus in Afghanistan. While the constitution of 2004 recognised Hindus and Sikhs as equal citizens, they have faced significant challenges in practice. Here is an overview of the societal discrimination and violence faced by Hindus in Afghanistan:

Discrimination and Harassment:

• Hindus have faced societal discrimination and harassment in Afghanistan, including unequal access to government jobs and harassment in schools.
• Hindu children have experienced bullying and harassment from fellow students in public schools, leading to some parents withdrawing them from classes.
• Hindu women have been forced to wear burqas in public, and both men and women have been required to wear yellow badges to identify themselves as non-Muslims.
• Hindus have also faced societal discrimination in the labour market and have encountered difficulties in practising their religious customs, such as cremation.

Violence and Attacks:

• Hindus have been the targets of violent attacks and killings by extremist groups such as the Islamic State of Khorasan Province (IS-KP) and the Taliban. These attacks have included shootings and bombings of Hindu temples and community gatherings.
• During the Taliban's rule from 1996 to 2001, Hindus faced restrictions and discrimination, including being forced to wear yellow badges in public.
• In 2022, an armed attack on a Sikh Gurdwara in Kabul resulted in the death of a Sikh worshipper and a security force member, injuring several others. The Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) claimed responsibility for the attack.
• In March 2022, a series of deadly attacks by ISIL targeted Sikhs and Hindus, resulting in the departure of approximately 200 members of the Sikh community to India due to security concerns.
• In 2016, an Afghan Sikh, Nirmohan Singh, was killed by armed gunmen in Kunduz, sparking an outcry from the Hindu and Sikh communities.

The decline in the Hindu population in Afghanistan, from an estimated 700,000 in the 1970s to fewer than 50 in 2020, is a stark reflection of the societal discrimination and violence they have endured.

Efforts for the protection of Hindu rights

Afghan Government Efforts

The Afghan government has granted Hindus and Sikhs public lands for cremating their dead and provided security for these cremations. In 2016, Afghanistan created one reserved seat in its 250-member parliament for Hindus and Sikhs. In 2020, the Afghan government allocated $650,000 for renovating gurdwaras and mandirs across the country. In December 2021, the Taliban issued a decree prohibiting women from working in NGOs, which forced many groups to cease operations across the country. However, the Taliban has also taken steps to protect the rights of Hindus and Sikhs in Afghanistan. The Taliban is in "continuous contact" with the Hindus and Sikhs of Afghanistan who were forced to flee and had their homes taken by warlords. The Taliban has also formed a commission to restore property to members of these minority communities.

International Community Efforts

Several advocacy groups have been advocating for the U.S. and other countries to provide refugee/asylum protection to Afghan Hindus and Sikhs. In 2020, 20 U.S. Senators sent a bipartisan letter to Mike Pompeo, asking for the U.S. to give refugee status to Afghan Hindus and Sikhs. A House Resolution has also urged the Administration to provide them with refugee status. In 2019, after persistent appeals by Sikh organizations, Canada approved the emigration of Hindus and Sikhs only under the assurance that refugees would be sponsored by private individuals. In July 2020, the Indian government announced that it would grant legal entry and asylum to any Hindus, Sikhs, Christians, and other persecuted religious minorities fleeing Afghanistan.

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