Taliban force farmers out of their lands.
Residents of the Hazara-dominated agricultural community in central Afghanistan say they have been forced out of their homes by Taliban militants auctioning off Pashtun landowners who want to seize their produce and shops.
Mohammad Mohaokoa, a Hazara political leader in exile since the Taliban coup last month, sounded the alarm bell earlier this week in a letter posted on social media.
He said more than 800 families had been ordered to leave their homes in the remote district bordering Daykundi and Uruzgan states, southwest of Kabul.
Residents of the Hazara-dominated agricultural community in central Afghanistan say they have been forced out of their homes by Taliban militants auctioning off Pashtun landowners who want to seize their produce and shops.
Mohammad Mohaokoa, a Hazara political leader in exile since the Taliban coup last month, sounded the alarm bell earlier this week in a letter posted on social media.
He said more than 800 families had been ordered to leave their homes in the remote district bordering Daykundi and Uruzgan states, southwest of Kabul.
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Locals contacted confirmed the report and asked officials to help.
The Hazaras are a Shiite tribe that has been persecuted for centuries in many Sunni Afghanistan. For more than two decades, they have been targeted by Taliban and Islamic State militants, who see them as heretics.
A former local resident told AFP that Taliban militants in vans descended on Gizab district and ordered people to evacuate, claiming they were living there illegally.
Residents were struggling to find someone to help them, he said.
“Telecommunications do not work in the village,” he added.
Hazara leader Mohaokoa shared a letter signed by Aminullah Zubair, the new governor of the Taliban province in Daykundi, claiming the land belonged to an old man named Haji Zaher.
He said those who oppose this should go to court.
Mohaokoa said the Taliban’s expulsion order was in fact a decision without trial.
Villagers in the area say the root of the problem is an attempt by powerful landowners to deprive them of their homes and crops.
A villager – who asked for anonymity – told AFP they moved to barren land 40 years ago and turned it into productive fields, planting wheat and almonds.
The Taliban and land seekers arrived earlier this week and ordered them to slaughter cattle in their honor before ordering them, he said.
Earlier this month, thousands of protesters from a neighborhood with former Afghan soldiers marched through Kandahar against the Taliban’s plans to evict them from their homes.
Residents of Zara Ferqa, a neighborhood with government houses and dilapidated huts, said they had been ordered to leave by the Taliban, but had nowhere to go.
In response to the protests, Kandahar governor has temporarily suspended all transfers until the matter is discussed with community elders.
Locals contacted confirmed the report and asked officials to help.
The Hazaras are a Shiite tribe that has been persecuted for centuries in many Sunni Afghanistan. For more than two decades, they have been targeted by Taliban and Islamic State militants, who see them as heretics.
A former local resident told AFP that Taliban militants in vans descended on Gizab district and ordered people to evacuate, claiming they were living there illegally.
Residents were struggling to find someone to help them, he said.
“Telecommunications do not work in the village,” he added.
Hazara leader Mohaokoa shared a letter signed by Aminullah Zubair, the new governor of the Taliban province in Daykundi, claiming the land belonged to an old man named Haji Zaher.
He said those who oppose this should go to court.
Mohaokoa said the Taliban’s expulsion order was in fact a decision without trial.
Villagers in the area say the root of the problem is an attempt by powerful landowners to deprive them of their homes and crops.
A villager – who asked for anonymity – told AFP they moved to barren land 40 years ago and turned it into productive fields, planting wheat and almonds.
The Taliban and land seekers arrived earlier this week and ordered them to slaughter cattle in their honor before ordering them, he said.
Earlier this month, thousands of protesters from a neighborhood with former Afghan soldiers marched through Kandahar against the Taliban’s plans to evict them from their homes.
Residents of Zara Ferqa, a neighborhood with government houses and dilapidated huts, said they had been ordered to leave by the Taliban, but had nowhere to go.
In response to the protests, Kandahar governor has temporarily suspended all transfers until the matter is discussed with community elders.
