Racial Slur in Afghanistan: Equating Hazaras with Dogs

No one comes short regarding the prejudice and dehumanization of the Hazara people in Afghanistan. Since the takeover of Afghanistan by the Taliban, racism and hatred against the Hazaras have been on the rise and social media platforms have amplified it. I have tried to stay away from Twitter, but today, when logged in again, I accidentally stumbled upon a few racist tweets. One of them was by a person who claimed to be a Tajik commander of Panjshir valley. He created a Twitter poll by asking:
" Who is conscientious and loyal? Dog or Hazara." 

Here is the screenshot:

Equating Hazaras with dogs and other animals has a history of racism, exclusion, dehumanization, and genocide. I have written a blog post about this racial trope used against the Hazaras by the Tajiks, Pashtuns, and other ethnic groups. This kind of racial slur carries the echoes of ethnic hatred and deep animosity against the Hazara people, who are right now facing genocide. 

Oftentimes, people point the finger at Pashtun atrocities against the Hazaras. That is true, but it distracts us from widespread systemic racism that goes beyond one ethnic group and its elites. Remember, I'm adding "elites" to highlight the elites' role, which I believe is responsible for peddling racism against the Hazaras. 

Racism against the Hazaras grew among Tajiks faster than other among other ethnic groups. Just look at the number of racial slurs that exist in Farsi. Who created them? In atrocities against the Hazaras, the Tajik leaders did not fall short either. An obvious example is the Afshar Massacre in 1993 (HRW report here)by forces and militias led by Ahmad Shah Massoud and the Ittihad-e Islami (Islamic Union) led by Abdul Rab Rasul Sayyaf. We are living in the 21st century, and yet a Tajik residing in Sacramento, CA, cannot hold back her racist feelings against the Hazaras. This is dangerous, and with such racist and egregious attitudes, we cannot stand against the Taliban. Racism is as dangerous as the Taliban. 

Related post
The semantics of racial slurs in Afghanistan

The problem of Bacha bazi through an anthropological lens

In the midst of the ongoing violence against women in Afghanistan by the Taliban, an article by Ali Abdi, a Ph.D. candidate in Anthropology at Yale University, offers insight into the complex issues of gender and sexuality in the country. Entitled "The Afghan Bachah and its Discontents: An Introductory History," the piece delves into the historical, social, political, and cultural factors that have shaped and continue to shape the practice of "bacha bazi," or the exploitation of young boys for entertainment, sexual pleasure, or aesthetic matters, as the author explains.

Despite the abhorrent nature of the practice, little research has been done on the topic. Abdi's article breaks new ground in its in-depth examination of the various dimensions of bachah bazi and its place in a larger historical context through an anthropological lens. The issues it raises are particularly relevant in the current climate, where women are once again being banned from education, employment, and public life under the Taliban.

However, the article does have some limitations, including a tendency to generalize the culture of bachah bazi to all Afghanistanis.* It is essential to recognize that Afghanistan is a diverse country with a complex history and that bacha bazi is primarily associated with specific ethnic groups, such as the Pashtuns, Tajiks, and Uzbeks. To characterize the entire nation as participating in or condoning this practice would be unfair. Bachah Bazi has no place in the Hazara culture and has been considered an abhorrent practice. These small nuances help us understand that Afghanistan is diverse in its people and cultures, something that has been overlooked so far. Ignoring cultural specificity is failing to notice ethnic and cultural differences, the very thing that people's identities and values are built upon. 

*Afghanistani is an inclusive term used for all inhabitants of Afghanistan versus Afghan, which is an ethnonym for Pashtuns.