Afghan Human Rights Activists Call for UN Action to Stop Land Grabbing and Forced Displacement of Hazaras

Kokcha News Agency – In an open letter to the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), more than 100 civil society groups and human rights activists have raised alarm over the ongoing land grabbing, forced displacement, and violent repression of the Hazara community. The letter highlights that since the Taliban’s return to power, Hazaras have been consistently deprived of their ancestral lands, often forced to repurchase them from nomadic groups known as “Kochis.”

The signatories specifically pointed to the forced displacement of 25 families from the village of Rashk in Panjab district, Bamyan, by the Taliban, describing it as part of a broader pattern of marginalization and erasure of the Hazara community that has persisted for over a century. These displaced families are now living in temporary tents and a mosque under strict Taliban surveillance.

Four families have reportedly fled out of fear of being forced to accept the Taliban’s decision in favor of the Kochis, while the remaining families, though allowed to harvest their crops this autumn, are under pressure to lease their lands and homes to the Kochis post-harvest.

The letter also notes that the Taliban’s return has emboldened Kochis to violently attack Hazara homes and farms, suppress local resistance, and file “fraudulent” legal claims against Hazaras. The lack of legal frameworks, fair trials, and the Taliban’s biased judicial processes have allowed these violations to go unchecked.

The signatories argue that these targeted attacks and systematic violations of Hazara rights could amount to “crimes against humanity,” including “persecution” and potentially “genocide.” They criticized the international community for underreporting these abuses and treating them as “sensitive issues,” which has led to continued impunity for perpetrators.

The letter calls on UNAMA, the UN Human Rights Council, and its member states to pressure the Taliban to return seized lands and homes to Hazaras, ensure compensation, and investigate and prosecute those responsible for land grabbing. It also demands an end to the security surveillance of families in Rashk village and the cancellation of arrest orders against four families.

Additionally, the signatories urged the UN to pressure the Taliban to prevent Kochi incursions into Hazara villages and lands, ensuring these acts of systematic violence are effectively halted. They called for a comprehensive investigation and documentation of forced displacement and land grabbing, as well as a public statement and detailed report on the human rights situation of marginalized groups in Afghanistan.

The letter also called for the establishment of an international accountability mechanism by the UN Human Rights Council to investigate past and present human rights violations in Afghanistan, preserve evidence, support criminal prosecution of perpetrators, and advance justice and accountability.

The signatories warned that without immediate action, the Hazara community, particularly the affected families in Rashk village, faces a serious risk of “collective punishment and further persecution.”

Earlier this month, the Taliban forcibly displaced 25 families from Rashk village in Panjab, Bamyan, following a legal ruling in favor of Kochis, locking their homes for later handover to the Kochis. The Taliban has repeatedly ruled in favor of Kochis in legal disputes, forcing Hazaras to leave their homes and lands or pay heavy fines.