Fieldnotes on Humanity

It would have been better if Radio Azaid, the Afghanistan Service, had been renamed Radio of Pashtuns. Radio Azadi, which means a free radio, is a misnomer for a radio that is strongly controlled and catered towards Pathun ethnonationalism. Radio Azadi not only amplified through its biased programs but also discriminated against hiring Hazara applicants and employees. This post is in a series of blog posts that I have decided to write about Radio Azadi, reflecting on my experience and the experience of others who worked in this organization.   When Radio Azadi opened its bureau in Kabul, it hired four Hazara employees; the rest were mostly Pashtuns and Tajiks, except the administrative manager and a guard who belonged to the Turkman ethnic group. Two Czech technicians from Prague hired me; had they been Pashuns or Tajiks, I had zero chance of employment. A year later, I was fired just because I was a Hazara.  A year later, only one Hazara remained. The rest were pushed ou...

On January 20, 2015, Radio Azadi, the Afghanistan Service, purposefully published a parnicious video report from Herat, located in western Afghanistan, which was subsequently published on its website, YouTube , and social media platforms. The report centered around Iranian influence in Afghanistan, and the reporter sought to cast doubt on the presence of Hazaras in Herat. In the report, the reporter visits the Jebrael neighborhood, a Hazara-majority area, and claims that Jebrael suddenly appeared in what was once an empty plain. The implication is clear: the Hazaras were not originally from Herat but were recently brought there by Iran. The reporter further questions local residents, asking if their homes were built by Iran. One elderly man responds, firmly stating, "No, we built everything with our own money and with our own hands." The underlying message of the report is that the presence of Hazaras in Herat is part of a covert Iranian government plan to establish a corrid...

In my previous post , I wrote about theft at Radio Azadi. Here’s an example: The RFE/RL Afghanistan bureau in Kabul had just moved from the Mustafa Hotel in the buffer zone, located between downtown and Shahr-e Naw, to Wazir Akbar Khan, a more opulent and safe neighborhood. It was sometime in late 2002. The city's electricity was rarely available, let alone reliable, so the office has received permission from the main office in Prague, the Czech Republic, to purchase a generator to provide electricity to our newly built two studios plus nearly 45 desktop computers. I was a technician and, therefore, was responsible for any technological problems.  I went to Shahr-e-Naw and found a computer shop owned by a Herati merchant that sold German generators. It was nearly two years after the people of the Taliban regime, and finding a powerful generator was like a dream come true. The only generator that the store had was 5000W, which was considered pretty good given the scarcity. Plus, if ...

When Kari Lake was nominated as a special advisor to the United States Agency for Global Media, some media outlets reported that Trump had asked Lake to gut the government agency that oversees Voice of America (VOA). Instead of gutting, Kari Lake dismantled the agency, which oversees six organizations, including Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty and Voice of America. I don’t know much about the other organizations that were closed, but I know a lot about Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty’s Afghan Service, known as Radio Azadi . (to call it Azadi, which means freedom, is a misnomer; I will write on this more in an upcoming blog post). I worked in its Kabul bureau as a technical manager in 2003. I was responsible for all communication tools, technology, radio broadcasting, and relay systems. I know how corrupt this organization was. I mean corrupt in every sense, ethically and financially. During the time I worked, male journalists would openly demand sex from their female colleagues in bro...

This morning, I was walking along a winding path through the university campus until I reached the bottom of the hill. From there, I followed the serpentine path upwards. Along the way, I saw a beautiful butterfly adorned with red and black spots. I knelt down quietly to take a short clip and share it with my nephew, Amir who is in fifth grade. The emergence of such a beautiful butterfly was mesmerizing. I didn't move for a minute, just to appreciate its beauty and presence in such an early spring. I haven't seen a butterfly yet. Just as I was gingerly prostrating over the grass while filming, it flew off timidly. Without hesitation, I shared the short clip with Amir. "Hey Amir, check out this surprise of mother nature," I texted, accompanied by a smily emoji. He immediately called, and we briefly video-chatted, after which I continued. As I was meandering through the hills, a not-so-distant memory suddenly rushed to my mind—the moment when I had walked this same pat...

Photo source: x/twitter One of the questions that has preoccupied the minds of contemporary Hazaras is: Who are we, and where do we come from? This question has no historical basis, but nevertheless, a question is a question. So, why is this question raised in the first place? Who is asking it? What has fueled this question more than anyone else is not the Hazaras themselves but the non-Hazaras, the Pashtuns and Tajiks in Afghanistan. The origin of this question lies among those who do not consider the Hazaras native to Afghanistan. It stems from those who claim that the Hazaras are outsiders and that they arrived in Afghanistan with such-and-such army in such-and-such century, but they never bother to question or think about their originality, how they did come to Afghanistan. This question also originates in the inhumane attitudes and behaviors of members of the dominant ethnic groups towards the Hazaras, which persist to this day. The roots of this discriminatory outlook lie with th...

I found this following refugee poem by chance. It is by an Afghanistani poet, Raziq Faani, and I thought I would regret it later if I did not translate it. ----- One morning, from the children’s playground, My little one returned with tearful eyes, And with the lump in his throat, he asked: "Tell me, dad! What is a refugee? Is it an insult or just a name?" At his question, a sorrow filled my heart, And a tear slipped uncontrollably down my cheek Quietly, I wiped it away with the back of my hand, As my mind searched for the right words. I told him: "Look, my dear child, Do you know what homeland means?" He nodded, "Yes, You once told me, That homeland is where our ancestors lived." I kissed his face, And with a heavy heart, I added: "If in one dark night, A band of thieves and marauders burn your dad's home, And set fire to everything, and you, in fear, run away, Spending nights on the streets of strangers, You will become a refugee, my child, You ...

If you are in the Washington D.C. area, you should definitely consider attending this remarkable event: " Hazara Women of Afghanistan Share Digital Stories ." What makes this event unique is that, for the first time, the Hazara women, members of the lower caste in Afghanistan, are able to share their stories. Hazara women are the untapped reservoir of talent, valor, resistance to oppression, resilience, and perseverance in the face of constant oppression. This is a good chance to discover who the Hazaras are, in particular, who the Hazara women are, and what role they played in the past 20 years of relatively democratic and peaceful situation that was created by the presence of the U.S. and its allies and how this fragile peace disbanded overnight. The aftereffect of this betrayal was catastrophic for women, particularly the Hazara women because they have been treated in worst oppressive manner than women of other ethnicities. There is a stark difference between being Hazara ...

On Highway 5 South, I was returning from San Jose. I stopped at a rest stop, which has now become a habit, I can't and shouldn't miss a rest stop. This rest stop is in an area between Lebec and Gorman in California. The elevation was marked as 4,000 feet.  A familiar scene, and yet not very noticeable, caught my attention. The sight of two men in safety vests scrubbing the stubborn stickers off from the traffic signposts and poles. I went close and said hi. They looked at me with a wondering face and replied, "Hello, sir. How is it going?" "very fine, thank you," I responded. "Can I help?" asked the taller man. "No, I'm just curious about what you are doing," I said. Marked by annoyance, the man with the scrubber looked tired but determined to get rid of the stickers. I offered water. "Not cold though, they are in the trunk of my car." "Thanks, man!" the taller replied. Where are you from? Facing this question has ...

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...

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...

Not long ago, I walked here with a young novelist who I befriended recently. Since then, I have been coming every once in a while, especially when I need to get out of my daily routine and alleviate stress, which has become a regular occurrence these days. Every time I visit this spot, I see people standing, taking photos in groups, chitter-chattering, some with their arms stretched out holding cell phones, their eyes staring at the camera, trying hard to smile while tilting their heads right and left as if trying to find enough space to capture the ocean in the background. This particular spot is called “Inspiration Point.” It is a famous site in the seaside neighborhood of Corona Del Mar. A couple of weeks ago, this area was closed to visitors due to an oil spill. Not many people knew why it was closed though. I saw them being frustrated. Not only this spot, but the entire coast of southern California was shut down; dead animals washed up the beaches, some were injured and stranded, ...

In 2013, when Margaret Thatcher died, some people celebrated her death--due to her destructive economic policies during her terms--not only in the UK  but also in other places, like  Chile . Rejoicing over her death was not only considered something unethical but a source of joy and happiness.   Today I heard that Mujib Rahman Ansari, a senior Sunni extremist  cleric and pro-Taliban, was killed in a blast . On social media platforms, many Afghanistanis expressed their happiness over his death. The first question that might come to our mind is, is this morally a good thing? This is not the right question. A more correct and accurate question to ask is whether the absence of someone who promoted and caused hatred, disgust, misery, and suffering brings us peace?  I asked a friend of mine this question. He told me that "rejoicing over the death of an evil person should not only be considered normal but also morally justifiable. We humans naturally rejoice ...

Some terrible news come from Afghanistan. In the past two days, the Taliban militants waged an attack on Balkhab, a Hazara district in northern Sar-e Pol province. They have been killing innocent people. Images appeared on social media show men and women are indiscriminately being shot, some are beheaded. Here is a  VOA piece about extrajudicial killings in the Hazara districts of Balkhab. The title of the news wrongly says "Afghan district," it's a Hazara district.

It's sad, extremely sad to see what is happening to women in Afghanistan. Nothing has changed in the Taliban's strategies and views on women. They remain the same people as they were 20 or 30 years ago. Today I stumbled upon state.gov archive and found quotes by women and about women 20 years ago. These quotes took me to 1990s, the decade that resembled like today, nothing has changed in the Taliban's outlook. For the original, please visit here .  Report on the Taliban's War Against Women BUREAU OF DEMOCRACY, HUMAN RIGHTS AND LABOR November 17, 2001 Report They made me invisible, shrouded and non-being A shadow, no existence, made silent and unseeing Denied of freedom, confined to my cage Tell me how to handle my anger and my rage? -- Zieba Shorish-Shamley, from  "Look into my World"  published on the 50 th  anniversary of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights The Taliban in Their Own Words "It's like having a flower, or a rose. Yo...

Personally, I am less worried about the recent Taliban's restrictions on women appearing on TV or in public in that matter. What makes me more worried is the rampant violence across Afghanistan, specifically the genocide of the Hazara people which has been going on for years now and recently intensified. Attacks on Hazaras have become a daily occurrence now. No one takes responsibility anymore, even daily attacks don't make headlines, only attacks on a large scale become newsworthy.  Since the Taliban's takeover of Afghanistan, a wave of violence swept the entire country, but violence against Hazaras is different, they are being systematically targeted at schools, mosques, hospitals, public squares, on the streets, and even in their homes. Simultaneously, something worse is happening these days. Pashtun Kuchis (nomads) have invaded Hazarajat, a region where the Hazaras live. They move with their livestock from village to village, grazing Hazara pastures, wheat farms, veget...

I am personally against the transfer of the former Afghanistan's government reserves ($7 billion) to the Taliban, for two reasons: 1) The Taliban as de factor rulers of Afghanistan are incapable of using the assets and even if they are, they will not use the funds among the population fairly. For the past 8 months, UN humanitarian aid has reached different cities across Afghanistan but most of the Hazara areas have not received them even once. For example, Pashtun families in southern and eastern Afghanistan, such as Jalalabad and Helmand, received 38 to 42 times while in central and northern Afghanistan, people have not receive a single grain of rice.  2) This fund does not belong to the Taliban and to be honest, most of it comes from foreign donations and it belongs to the former government that supposed to represent all the people of Afghanistan. The Taliban is a terror group, representing the Pashtun tribe mostly, they do not represent all the people of Afghanistan. They do no...

In early September of 2021, AP reported that there were potentially young girls among evacuees who were forced to marry older men to escape the brutality of the Taliban regime. Well, there is a strange case that I am following closely. In one case, a man brought two women, one registered as a wife and the other as a sister. His wife has one child, the older six children. The young wife, who is registered as a sister, is pregnant now. This is happening in a refugee camp. The neighbors told me they began noticing the man's sister's belly gradually expanding. They didn't know she was the man's wife. They were confused and wondered whether the man had impregnated his sister. They are currently kept in one of those lily pads overseas and have been there since six months ago or more. The officials at the camp are also aware of it but do not know how to deal with it.  See  this report : An internal document described to the Associated Press by officials familiar with it says t...

I posted this on a Facebook group that helps Afghanistani refugees. I'm reposting it here: A lot of us are dealing *Afghanistani refugees nowadays, they are all traumatized one way or another. if we know how events in Afghanistan affect them, we know better how to help them. Afghanistan is rife with violence, but what is particular in the case of the Hazara people is that they are systematically targeted at schools, mosques, hospitals (at births), wedding halls, sport clubs, squares, streets, and highways by Sunni Muslim extremist groups, the Taliban, ISIS, and other affiliates. Please join this important virtual seminar on how the Hazara genocide unfolding.  Join us this Friday at 10am ET for a virtual seminar: Unpacking the Genocide of Hazaras in Afghanistan. Event co-hosted by CGM and Porsesh Research and Studies Organization. Register here:  https://t.co/sIeP6I8VlZ  *Afghanistani is an inclusive term for all inhabitants of Afghanistan versus "Afghan" which exclusively...

In the aftermath of the US withdrawal from Afghanistan, a lot of Afghanistanis* fled to Pakistan. Among the them were the Hazaras who escaped the Taliban and other Sunni extremist groups who are systematically targeting them. I have been in touch with a few people in Islamabad who are SIV applicants. Some of the individuals have been facing challenges especially with receiving funds from overseas. They told me that the Western Union employees in different Pakistani banks in Islamabad have asked them whether they are Christians because people with Christian names from overseas wired money to them. They told me that they assured the employees that they are Muslims, but they were still rejected on the grounds that Christian believers from Europe and America are sending money to convert them. This incident occurred at least for three individuals who are Hazaras. When I heard it, I was totally flabbergasted and didn't know how to react. My advice to them was to ask their Pakistani landl...

Today, while hiking, I met an Ukrainian refugee or immigrant (whatever those categories mean to policy makers). We spoke of plants, birds, mountains and nature. I listened sympathetically to her stories about her escape from the Russian war in her country that catapulted her to another part of the world. There was an inner tension or urge building up inside me, it was some sort of emphatic feelings. I wanted to talk with her about what it means to be an immigrant or a refugee, but suddenly I realized that we are different and she may not understand my language and feelings. This hesitance was due to the way we are and the way we are defined as immigrants. So, I felt discouraged to say anything about my experience as an migrant because I, as an Afghanistani carrying multitude of tropes and stereotypes. I come from a majority Muslim country that is torn by war and violence, and its people's identity is often (if not always) coterminous with religion, terror, war, and drug. I thought ...

Refugees sleeping on the sidewalk in Indonesia (Photo source: social media) What is going on in Indonesia? It has become an inferno for thousands of refugees who have been stranded for years now. Indonesia has not signed the 1951 Refugee Convention and its supplemental 1967 Protocol which form the basis of rights of refugees and obligations of governments to protect them. The Indonesian government has done nothing but to create a situation that has become a protracted agony and suspense, a humanitarian predicament that has resulted in the loss of dozens of lives.  In December 2016, in an attempt to a better humanitarian response to the refugee crisis, the Indonesian president Joko Widodo issued a decree called Presidential Regulation No. 125 , which allows refugees and asylum seekers to stay in Indonesia, not to be forcibly returned to their country of origin. In the Article 1, no 1 it says: Foreign refugee, hereinafter referred to as refugee, shall mean a foreigner who resides wi...

In response to my previous blog post about the crises at the Afghanistan Embassy in Washington DC, I received the following e-mail from the Afghan embassy. For further transparency, I am going to copy and paste it here. The purpose of my previous blog post was to highlight the misery and injustice that the US brought on the people of Afghanistan not only inside but also outside. I have spoken to a few Afghan diplomats, they are struggling to survive as their country is handed over by the United States to a criminal ethno-religio-fascist group, the Taliban. Anyway, the following email is indicating that I got a few facts wrong. This post is for that purpose.   Embassy Admin   < *******@afghanembassy.us > Dear Fekrat, We are writing to inform you that the information contained in your blog post published today, supposedly provided by our diplomats, are false. In this regard, we would like to clarify the following. 1.        We are not to...

Afghanistan's flag flutters outside the Afghanistan embassy in Washington, DC. (Photo  Source ) The collapse of Afghanistan's government was a catastrophic event for all Afghans, but for perhaps no one more so than for staff of Afghanistan’s diplomatic missions in the United States whose employees are not only distressed financially but also oppressed politically. For months now, Afghan diplomats and staff have not received their salaries and recently, the U.S. State Department has pressured them to limit their diplomatic activities and asked them not to speak to the media. After the sudden fall of Kabul to the Taliban on August 15, the US decided to freeze nearly $9.5 billion in assets belonging to the Afghan central bank. In addition, it froze all accounts belonging to the Afghan government, including those belonging to Afghanistan's diplomatic missions, its embassy in Washington D.C. and consulates in New York and Los Angeles. The Afghanistan embassy recently shut its co...

Now that the Taliban have taken control of everything, privacy and safety on the web is more important than ever. This is especially important to those who are civil society activists, journalists and writers who want to avoid censorship and harassment from the Taliban. These two VPNs are working perfectly without putting too much constraints affecting the speed and quality of accessing the Internet. These are not free though but with one subscription you can connect five devices. expressvpn* nordvpn It is important to shield ourselves against censorship and and control. One of the ways is to find alternatives to common Internet browsers we often use. Tor is a powerful browser, but it is also a VPN. You should first download it to your device and make sure it is connected. Then, everything you write or search while using Tor will bypass you local ISPs. For example, let's say you are in Kabul and you want to connect to the Internet via Roshan and Afghan Wireless or any other Afghan ...