The Shia Presence In Afghanistan: A Significant Minority

Afghanistan is a predominantly Muslim country, with Islam as its official state religion. While the majority of Afghans are Sunni Muslims, there is a significant minority of Shia Muslims. Estimates of the Shia population vary, ranging from as low as 7% to as high as 35%. The Shia community in Afghanistan is primarily composed of the Twelver branch, with smaller groups following Ismailism. The largest Shia ethnic group is the Hazaras, followed by the Farsiwan of Herat and Farah provinces. Shia Muslims in Afghanistan have faced persecution and targeted attacks by extremist groups, but they have also been able to celebrate their festivals more openly in recent years.

Shia Islam is practiced by a significant minority in Afghanistan, with estimates ranging from 7% to 35% of the population

According to a 2021 survey by PEW, around 7% of Afghans follow Shia Islam. However, other estimates suggest a higher proportion, with some sources placing the figure at around 10% and others as high as 15% or even 20%. The lack of precise data is partly due to the absence of a proper census in Afghanistan for over 40 years.

The Shia community in Afghanistan is predominantly composed of the Twelvers, with a smaller number following Ismailism. The largest group within the Twelvers are the Hazaras, followed by the Farsiwan of the western Herat and Farah provinces. Other Twelver communities include the Qizilbash and the Sadat. The Ismailis, on the other hand, are found primarily in the eastern Hazarajat region, the Baghlan area north of the Hindu Kush, and among the mountain Tajik of Badakhshan and the Wakhi in the Wakhan Corridor.

Historically, the Shia community in Afghanistan has faced persecution and sectarian tensions with the Sunni majority. During the Taliban regime, Hazaras, who constitute a significant portion of the Shia population, were relentlessly persecuted. However, in recent years, Shias have enjoyed greater freedom to practice their faith and celebrate their festivals on a larger scale. Despite this, they continue to face security threats and targeted attacks by extremist groups such as ISIS-Khorasan, which has specifically targeted Shia Muslims, particularly ethnic Hazaras.

Shia Muslims have also held some prominent government positions, although Shia leaders claim that their representation does not reflect their demographic proportion. The issue of religious representation is further complicated by the intersection of religious and ethnic identities, with Hazaras facing discrimination due to their ethnicity as well as their religious affiliation.

Afghanistan's Shia Muslims are primarily Twelvers, with a smaller number of Ismailis

The majority of Afghanistan's Shia Muslims are Twelvers, primarily of the Hazara ethnicity. The next-largest Twelvers are the Farsiwan of the western Herat and Farah provinces. Other, far smaller, Twelver communities include the Qizilbash and the Sadat populations.

Ismailism is a sect of Shia Islam. Ismailis get their name from their acceptance of Imam Isma'il ibn Jafar as the appointed spiritual successor to Ja'far al-Sadiq. Here, they differ from the Twelvers, who accept Musa al-Kadhim, the younger brother of Isma'il, as the true Imam.

Ismaili communities in Afghanistan are less populous than the Twelvers, who consider the Ismaili heretical. They are found primarily in and near the eastern Hazarajat, in the Baghlan area north of the Hindu Kush, among the mountain Tajik of Badakhshan, and amongst the Wakhi in the Wakhan Corridor.

The Ismailis believe that the series of Imamat or Welayat that comes from the first Imami, Hazar-e-Ali, will never end. The 49th Imam is Aga Khan IV.

The largest group of Shia Muslims in Afghanistan are the Hazaras, followed by the Farsiwan of Herat and Farah provinces

Shia Muslims make up a significant minority of the population in Afghanistan. While a 2021 PEW survey estimates that only 7% of Afghans follow Shia Islam, other estimates put the figure at as high as 35%. Shia Muslims in Afghanistan are primarily Twelvers, with a smaller number following Ismailism. The largest group of Shia Muslims in Afghanistan are the Hazaras, who are predominantly Twelvers, followed by the Farsiwan of Herat and Farah provinces.

The Hazaras are an ethnic minority group, predominantly found in the central provinces of Afghanistan, such as Bamiyan, and have been relentlessly persecuted by the Taliban. They make up approximately 90% of the Shia population in Afghanistan. The Hazaras have a rich history and strong cultural identity, with a significant presence in Afghan politics. They have faced discrimination and violence due to their religious and ethnic background, with targeted attacks by extremist groups such as ISIS-Khorasan.

The Farsiwan of Herat and Farah provinces are the second-largest group of Twelver Shia Muslims in Afghanistan. They are primarily based in the western provinces of Herat and Farah. The Farsiwan have a significant presence in these regions and have contributed to the cultural and religious landscape of Afghanistan.

Other smaller Twelver communities include the Qizilbash and the Sadat populations. These communities are spread across various regions of Afghanistan and make up a smaller proportion of the overall Shia population in the country.

In addition to the Twelvers, there are also Ismaili communities in Afghanistan, who accept Ismail ibn Jafar as their spiritual leader. The Ismailis are considered heretical by the Twelvers and have a smaller population, primarily residing in the eastern regions of the country, such as the Hazarajat region, Baghlan, Badakhshan, and the Wakhan Corridor.

The distribution of Shia Muslims across Afghanistan varies, with most living in the central and western parts of the country and in cities like Kabul, Mazar-i-Sharif, Herat, and Ghazni. Shia Muslims have played a significant role in Afghanistan's history and continue to be an essential part of the country's diverse religious and cultural landscape.

Shia Muslims in Afghanistan have faced persecution and security threats, particularly from ISIS-K and the Taliban

Afghanistan's Shia Muslims, who make up an estimated 7% to 35% of the country's population, have faced persecution and security threats, particularly from ISIS-K and the Taliban. While there has been little evidence of sectarian violence in Afghanistan compared to neighbouring Pakistan, the country's Shia community has been a target of extremist groups.

ISIS-K, the Afghan branch of the Islamic State, has carried out numerous attacks on Shia Muslims, seeing them as heretics and polytheists. Since 2014, ISIS-K has been responsible for suicide bombings, targeted killings, and the destruction of Shia shrines and places of worship. The group has confiscated Shia properties, executed Shia prisoners, and forced thousands of Shia Shabaks and Turkmens to flee their homes.

The Taliban, a Sunni militant group, has also historically persecuted Shia Muslims, particularly the Hazara ethnic group. During their previous rule from 1996 to 2001, the Taliban waged a campaign of targeted killings and torture against the Hazaras, wresting control of their regions in Afghanistan. After regaining power in 2021, the Taliban initially tried to assuage fears of discrimination, even deploying fighters to protect Shi'a ceremonies. However, they have since been accused of breaking their promises, restricting the teaching of Shi'a jurisprudence, banning marriages between Shi'a and Sunnis, and preventing Shi'a from celebrating religious festivals.

The Taliban's mounting restrictions on the Shia community have emboldened other religious extremists and deepened sectarian divisions. Human Rights Watch reported that ISKP, another name for ISIS-K, carried out 13 attacks against Hazaras following the Taliban takeover, resulting in the deaths of at least 700 people. Additionally, the Taliban's persecution of journalists has led many to abandon their profession or flee the country.

The ongoing persecution of Shia Muslims in Afghanistan has caused a mass exodus, with thousands seeking refuge in neighbouring countries like Pakistan. The community lives in constant fear of violence and repression, facing marginalization in public service delivery, public sector hiring, and access to worship and education.

Shia Muslims hold some major government positions in Afghanistan, but their representation does not reflect their demographic proportion

Afghanistan is a predominantly Sunni Muslim country, with Shia Muslims comprising a significant minority. While estimates vary, the Shia population is believed to constitute between 7% and 35% of the total population, with the majority belonging to the Twelver branch and a smaller number following Ismailism.

Historically, Shia Muslims in Afghanistan have faced persecution and violence, particularly during the Taliban's first stint in power from 1996 to 2001. During this period, the Taliban waged a campaign of targeted killings and attempted to suppress Shia religious practices.

In recent years, however, the situation has improved somewhat for Shia Muslims in Afghanistan. Following the fall of the Taliban regime in 2001, Shia Muslims have been able to celebrate their festivals more openly and with greater confidence. Additionally, Shia Muslims have gained representation in the Afghan government, holding some major government positions.

Despite these gains, Shia Muslims in Afghanistan continue to face challenges and their representation in government does not reflect their demographic proportion. While they have secured some prominent positions, such as Second Vice President Sarwar Danish and several deputy ministers, governors, and a member of the Supreme Court, they have not achieved cabinet-level positions in recent years.

Furthermore, Shia Muslims, particularly the Hazara ethnic group, remain a target of sectarian violence and discrimination. They have been subjected to forced evictions, extortion, physical abuse, and deadly attacks by extremist groups such as the Islamic State-Khorasan (IS-K). Rights groups and community representatives have accused the Taliban of failing to provide adequate protection and address the longstanding discrimination faced by Shia Muslims.

The underrepresentation of Shia Muslims in the Afghan government, coupled with ongoing violence and discrimination, underscores the challenges faced by this religious minority in Afghanistan. While they have made some political gains, their representation does not align with their demographic proportion, highlighting the need for further progress toward inclusivity and equitable power-sharing in the country.

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