Persecution of Hazara people
Encyclopedia
This is a list of target killings and terrorist attacks
which have been carried out as part of a systematic persecution of the Hazara people, a Shi'a
Muslim ethnic minority in central Afghanistan
and western Pakistan
.
Terrorism
Terrorism is the systematic use of terror, especially as a means of coercion. In the international community, however, terrorism has no universally agreed, legally binding, criminal law definition...
which have been carried out as part of a systematic persecution of the Hazara people, a Shi'a
Shi'a Islam
Shia Islam is the second largest denomination of Islam. The followers of Shia Islam are called Shi'ites or Shias. "Shia" is the short form of the historic phrase Shīʻatu ʻAlī , meaning "followers of Ali", "faction of Ali", or "party of Ali".Like other schools of thought in Islam, Shia Islam is...
Muslim ethnic minority in central Afghanistan
Afghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
and western Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
.
2001
- February 09: Six killed on a passenger van, the first major secterian attack on Hazara people in Pakistan. The passenger van was on route from Hazara TownHazara townHazara Town is a lower- to middle-income area on the west of Quetta city with a population of up to 70,000, of which an approximately one-third are Hazara with minority Baloch and Pathan tribe on south of Hazara town. Hazara Town begins from Brewery Road near Bolan Medical College and continue to...
to Alamdar road, when unknown gunmen opened fire and killed 5 Hazara and 1 non-Hazara, five others were injured. Later, Lashakar e JhangviLashkar-e-JhangviLashkar-e-Jhangvi is a militant organization. Formed in 1996, it has operated in Pakistan since Sipah-e-Sahaba activist Riaz Basra broke away from the SSP over differences with his seniors...
claimed the responsibility for the attack.
2003
- June 8: 11 Pakistani Police cadets were killed, when two motorcyle-borne terrorists opened fire on van. The attack occurred on Saryab road, QuettaQuettais the largest city and the provincial capital of the Balochistan Province of Pakistan. Known as the "Fruit Garden of Pakistan" due to the diversity of its plant and animal wildlife, Quetta is home to the Hazarganji Chiltan National Park, which contains some of the rarest species of wildlife in the...
and left 9 others injure. The cadets belonged to Hazara minority.
- July 04: Forty seven killed in mosque attack, on Friday, when three gunmen entered the Imambargah Kalan Hazara in Quetta and opened fire on the worshipers practicing Friday prayer. The terrorists used assault riflesAssault rifleAn assault rifle is a selective fire rifle that uses an intermediate cartridge and a detachable magazine. Assault rifles are the standard infantry weapons in most modern armies...
and grenades. 47 were killed and 65 others were injured.
2004
- March 2: Forty two Hazara Shia were killed, on the holy Day of AshuraDay of AshuraThe Day of Ashura is on the 10th day of Muharram in the Islamic calendar and marks the climax of the Remembrance of Muharram.It is commemorated by Shia Muslims as a day of mourning for the martyrdom of Husayn ibn Ali, the grandson of the Islamic Prophet Muhammad at the Battle of Karbala on 10...
, after an explosion the terrorist opened fire on the procession. 42 were killed and more than 150 others were injured. This happened hours after Iraq Ashura bombings.
2011
- September 20: An armed attack on a bus of Hazara pilgrims travelling through MastungMastungMastung may refer to:* Mastung District* Mastung Valley* Mastung, Pakistan...
near Quetta left at least 26 people dead.
- September 23: Three people were killed and two injured when unidentified gunmen opened fire on a van carrying passengers who belonged to the Hazara community. The attack came just three days after the Mastung bus incident, in which members of the Hazara community were also targeted.
- October 04: Thirteen people (including one Sunni) killed when unidentified gunmen target a van carrying Hazara passengers near Quetta.