Mohammad Rasol Jorat
- Photo of Victim
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- Province of birth
- Faryab: Andkhoy
- Gender
- Male
- Ethnicity
- Uzbek
- District geolocation of incident
- Kabul: 34° 31′ 1″ N, 69° 8′ 60″ E
- Description of incident
Known as the "Killing of AGSA," it refers to the collective murder of opponents of the People's Democratic Party of Afghanistan in the Pul-e-Charkhi Prison in Kabul between 1978 and 1979. The Afghan Intelligence Office, or AGSA (Afghan Agency for Safeguarding National Interest), led by Asadullah Sarwari, had arrested nearly 150,000 people, out of which an estimated number of 27,000 political prisoners were put to death without a single trial, probe, or even allegation. Many Afghan families had no idea where their loved ones had disappeared in the latter part of 1978 and early 1979. A list of those slain that included 5,000 victims of AGSA mass executions was made public by the Dutch Prosecutor's Office in 2013.
- Witness/Survivor Statement
No statement
Mohammad Rahim
- Photo of Victim
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- Province of birth
- Kabul: Bagrami
- Gender
- Male
- Ethnicity
- Uzbek
- District geolocation of incident
- Kabul: 34° 31′ 1″ N, 69° 8′ 60″ E
- Description of incident
Known as the "Killing of AGSA," it refers to the collective murder of opponents of the People's Democratic Party of Afghanistan in the Pul-e-Charkhi Prison in Kabul between 1978 and 1979. The Afghan Intelligence Office, or AGSA (Afghan Agency for Safeguarding National Interest), led by Asadullah Sarwari, had arrested nearly 150,000 people, out of which an estimated number of 27,000 political prisoners were put to death without a single trial, probe, or even allegation. Many Afghan families had no idea where their loved ones had disappeared in the latter part of 1978 and early 1979. A list of those slain that included 5,000 victims of AGSA mass executions was made public by the Dutch Prosecutor's Office in 2013.
- Witness/Survivor Statement
No statement
Asadullah Khorram
- Photo of Victim
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- Province of birth
- Sare Pol: Balkhab
- Gender
- Male
- Ethnicity
- Hazara
- District geolocation of incident
- Kabul: 34° 31′ 1″ N, 69° 8′ 60″ E
- Description of incident
On September 30, 2022, a suicide attack targeted the Kaaj Educational Center in Dasht-e-Barchi, West Kabul, Afghanistan. The explosion occurred at approximately 7:30 AM and tragically resulted in the deaths of over 58 students. More than 126 others were injured. The Kaaj Center, located in a predominantly Hazara neighbourhood, served as a learning space for students preparing for university entrance exams. On the day of the attack, nearly 300 students were present, many of whom were high school girls taking a practice exam. While no group has officially claimed responsibility, the Hazara ethnic group has faced widespread violence from groups like ISIL-K and the Taliban in the past.
- Witness/Survivor Statement
No statement
Hussainali Qasimi
- Photo of Victim
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- Province of birth
- Bamyan: Bamyan
- Gender
- Male
- Ethnicity
- Hazara
- District geolocation of incident
- Yakawlang: 34° 44′ 50″ N, 66° 56′ 40″ E
- Description of incident
Confidential
- Witness/Survivor Statement
Confidential
Sayed Talib
- Photo of Victim
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- Province of birth
- Bamyan: Bamyan
- Gender
- Male
- Ethnicity
- Sadat
- District geolocation of incident
- Yakawlang: 34° 44′ 50″ N, 66° 56′ 40″ E
- Description of incident
On January 7, 2001, the Taliban attacked the Yakawlang District of Bamiyan Province and massacred hundreds of Hazara civilians. Many of those who managed to escape and take refuge on the mountains froze to death. On January 8, Taliban members began a house-to-house search across the district. The massacre of Hazaras continued through the 9th, 10th, 11th, and 12th of January. At least 300 Hazaras were executed by the Taliban.
Sayed Reza
- Photo of Victim
- Loading
- Province of birth
- Bamyan: Bamyan
- Gender
- Male
- Ethnicity
- Sadat
- District geolocation of incident
- Yakawlang: 34° 44′ 50″ N, 66° 56′ 40″ E
- Description of incident
On January 7, 2001, the Taliban attacked the Yakawlang District of Bamiyan Province and massacred hundreds of Hazara civilians. Many of those who managed to escape and take refuge on the mountains froze to death. On January 8, Taliban members began a house-to-house search across the district. The massacre of Hazaras continued through the 9th, 10th, 11th, and 12th of January. At least 300 Hazaras were executed by the Taliban.
Sayed Nabi
- Photo of Victim
- Loading
- Province of birth
- Bamyan: Bamyan
- Gender
- Male
- Ethnicity
- Sadat
- District geolocation of incident
- Yakawlang: 34° 44′ 50″ N, 66° 56′ 40″ E
- Description of incident
On January 7, 2001, the Taliban attacked the Yakawlang District of Bamiyan Province and massacred hundreds of Hazara civilians. Many of those who managed to escape and take refuge on the mountains froze to death. On January 8, Taliban members began a house-to-house search across the district. The massacre of Hazaras continued through the 9th, 10th, 11th, and 12th of January. At least 300 Hazaras were executed by the Taliban.
- Witness/Survivor Statement
On January 7, 2001, the Taliban attacked the Yakaolang district of Bamiyan province and massacred hundreds of Hazara civilians. Many of those who managed to escape and take refuge on the mountains froze to death. On the 8th of January, Taliban members began a house-to-house search across the district. The massacre of Hazaras continued through the 9th, 10th, 11th, and 12th of January. At least 300 Hazaras were either summerly executed or deliberately killed by the Taliban.
Sayed Mahdi
- Photo of Victim
- Loading
- Province of birth
- Bamyan: Bamyan
- Gender
- Male
- Ethnicity
- Sadat
- District geolocation of incident
- Yakawlang: 34° 44′ 50″ N, 66° 56′ 40″ E
- Description of incident
The Taliban slaughtered at least 300 Sayyid and Hazara people during an attack on the Yakawlang District of Bamiyan Province on January 7, 2001. Witness accounts state that once the Taliban troops retook Yakawlang on January 7, they started to arrest and ruthlessly kill individuals. In late December 2000, they had lost Yakawlang to Hezb-e Wahdat, an anti-Taliban party that claimed to be supported by the Hazara minority. Additionally, witnesses reported to Amnesty International that Hezb-e Wahdat soldiers executed at least four people in broad daylight during the few days they occupied Yakawlang in late December 2000.
- Witness/Survivor Statement
No statement
Sayed Ayob
- Photo of Victim
- Loading
- Province of birth
- Bamyan: Bamyan
- Gender
- Male
- Ethnicity
- Sadat
- District geolocation of incident
- Yakawlang: 34° 44′ 50″ N, 66° 56′ 40″ E
- Description of incident
On January 7, 2001, the Taliban attacked the Yakawlang District of Bamiyan Province and massacred hundreds of Hazara civilians. Many of those who managed to escape and take refuge on the mountains froze to death. On January 8, Taliban members began a house-to-house search across the district. The massacre of Hazaras continued through the 9th, 10th, 11th, and 12th of January. At least 300 Hazaras were executed by the Taliban.
Sayed Abdulhamid
- Photo of Victim
- Loading
- Province of birth
- Bamyan: Bamyan
- Gender
- Male
- Ethnicity
- Sadat
- District geolocation of incident
- Yakawlang: 34° 44′ 50″ N, 66° 56′ 40″ E
- Description of incident
The Taliban slaughtered at least 300 Sayyid and Hazara people during an attack on the Yakawlang District of Bamiyan Province on January 7, 2001. Witness accounts state that once the Taliban troops retook Yakawlang on January 7, they started to arrest and ruthlessly kill individuals. In late December 2000, they had lost Yakawlang to Hezb-e Wahdat, an anti-Taliban party that claimed to be supported by the Hazara minority. Additionally, witnesses reported to Amnesty International that Hezb-e Wahdat soldiers executed at least four people in broad daylight during the few days they occupied Yakawlang in late December 2000.
- Witness/Survivor Statement
No statement
Sayed Ewaz Karimi
- Photo of Victim
- Loading
- Province of birth
- Bamyan: Bamyan
- Gender
- Male
- Ethnicity
- Sadat
- District geolocation of incident
- Yakawlang: 34° 44′ 50″ N, 66° 56′ 40″ E
- Description of incident
The Taliban slaughtered at least 300 Sayyid and Hazara people during an attack on the Yakawlang District of Bamiyan Province on January 7, 2001. Witness accounts state that once the Taliban troops retook Yakawlang on January 7, they started to arrest and ruthlessly kill individuals. In late December 2000, they had lost Yakawlang to Hezb-e Wahdat, an anti-Taliban party that claimed to be supported by the Hazara minority. Additionally, witnesses reported to Amnesty International that Hezb-e Wahdat soldiers executed at least four people in broad daylight during the few days they occupied Yakawlang in late December 2000.
- Witness/Survivor Statement
No statement
Sayed Mosa
- Photo of Victim
- Loading
- Province of birth
- Bamyan: Bamyan
- Gender
- Male
- Ethnicity
- Sadat
- District geolocation of incident
- Yakawlang: 34° 44′ 50″ N, 66° 56′ 40″ E
- Description of incident
On January 7, 2001, the Taliban attacked the Yakawlang District of Bamiyan Province and massacred hundreds of Hazara civilians. Many of those who managed to escape and take refuge on the mountains froze to death. On January 8, Taliban members began a house-to-house search across the district. The massacre of Hazaras continued through the 9th, 10th, 11th, and 12th of January. At least 300 Hazaras were executed by the Taliban.
Sayed Dawod
- Photo of Victim
- Loading
- Province of birth
- Bamyan: Bamyan
- Gender
- Male
- Ethnicity
- Sadat
- District geolocation of incident
- Yakawlang: 34° 44′ 50″ N, 66° 56′ 40″ E
- Description of incident
The Taliban slaughtered at least 300 Sayyid and Hazara people during an attack on the Yakawlang District of Bamiyan Province on January 7, 2001. Witness accounts state that once the Taliban troops retook Yakawlang on January 7, they started to arrest and ruthlessly kill individuals. In late December 2000, they had lost Yakawlang to Hezb-e Wahdat, an anti-Taliban party that claimed to be supported by the Hazara minority. Additionally, witnesses reported to Amnesty International that Hezb-e Wahdat soldiers executed at least four people in broad daylight during the few days they occupied Yakawlang in late December 2000.
- Witness/Survivor Statement
No statement
Mohammad Zawar
- Photo of Victim
- Loading
- Province of birth
- Bamyan: Bamyan
- Gender
- Male
- Ethnicity
- Hazara
- District geolocation of incident
- Yakawlang: 34° 44′ 50″ N, 66° 56′ 40″ E
- Description of incident
The Taliban slaughtered at least 300 Sayyid and Hazara people during an attack on the Yakawlang District of Bamiyan Province on January 7, 2001. Witness accounts state that once the Taliban troops retook Yakawlang on January 7, they started to arrest and ruthlessly kill individuals. In late December 2000, they had lost Yakawlang to Hezb-e Wahdat, an anti-Taliban party that claimed to be supported by the Hazara minority. Additionally, witnesses reported to Amnesty International that Hezb-e Wahdat soldiers executed at least four people in broad daylight during the few days they occupied Yakawlang in late December 2000.
- Witness/Survivor Statement
No statement
Sayed Sarwar
- Photo of Victim
- Loading
- Province of birth
- Bamyan: Bamyan
- Gender
- Male
- Ethnicity
- Sadat
- District geolocation of incident
- Yakawlang: 34° 44′ 50″ N, 66° 56′ 40″ E
- Description of incident
The Taliban slaughtered at least 300 Sayyid and Hazara people during an attack on the Yakawlang District of Bamiyan Province on January 7, 2001. Witness accounts state that once the Taliban troops retook Yakawlang on January 7, they started to arrest and ruthlessly kill individuals. In late December 2000, they had lost Yakawlang to Hezb-e Wahdat, an anti-Taliban party that claimed to be supported by the Hazara minority. Additionally, witnesses reported to Amnesty International that Hezb-e Wahdat soldiers executed at least four people in broad daylight during the few days they occupied Yakawlang in late December 2000.
Sayed Anwar Sha Hussaini
- Photo of Victim
- Loading
- Province of birth
- Bamyan: Bamyan
- Gender
- Male
- Ethnicity
- Sadat
- District geolocation of incident
- Yakawlang: 34° 44′ 50″ N, 66° 56′ 40″ E
- Description of incident
The Taliban slaughtered at least 300 Sayyid and Hazara people during an attack on the Yakawlang District of Bamiyan Province on January 7, 2001. Witness accounts state that once the Taliban troops retook Yakawlang on January 7, they started to arrest and ruthlessly kill individuals. In late December 2000, they had lost Yakawlang to Hezb-e Wahdat, an anti-Taliban party that claimed to be supported by the Hazara minority. Additionally, witnesses reported to Amnesty International that Hezb-e Wahdat soldiers executed at least four people in broad daylight during the few days they occupied Yakawlang in late December 2000.
- Witness/Survivor Statement
No statement
Mohammad Ali
- Photo of Victim
- Loading
- Province of birth
- Bamyan: Bamyan
- Gender
- Male
- Ethnicity
- Hazara
- District geolocation of incident
- Yakawlang: 34° 44′ 50″ N, 66° 56′ 40″ E
- Description of incident
The Taliban slaughtered at least 300 Sayyid and Hazara people during an attack on the Yakawlang District of Bamiyan Province on January 7, 2001. Witness accounts state that once the Taliban troops retook Yakawlang on January 7, they started to arrest and ruthlessly kill individuals. In late December 2000, they had lost Yakawlang to Hezb-e Wahdat, an anti-Taliban party that claimed to be supported by the Hazara minority. Additionally, witnesses reported to Amnesty International that Hezb-e Wahdat soldiers executed at least four people in broad daylight during the few days they occupied Yakawlang in late December 2000.
- Witness/Survivor Statement
No statement
Sayed Qasim Tabibi
- Photo of Victim
- Loading
- Province of birth
- Bamyan: Bamyan
- Gender
- Male
- Ethnicity
- Sadat
- District geolocation of incident
- Yakawlang: 34° 44′ 50″ N, 66° 56′ 40″ E
- Description of incident
The Taliban slaughtered at least 300 Sayyid and Hazara people during an attack on the Yakawlang District of Bamiyan Province on January 7, 2001. Witness accounts state that once the Taliban troops retook Yakawlang on January 7, they started to arrest and ruthlessly kill individuals. In late December 2000, they had lost Yakawlang to Hezb-e Wahdat, an anti-Taliban party that claimed to be supported by the Hazara minority. Additionally, witnesses reported to Amnesty International that Hezb-e Wahdat soldiers executed at least four people in broad daylight during the few days they occupied Yakawlang in late December 2000.
- Witness/Survivor Statement
No statement
Sayed Sarwar
- Photo of Victim
- Loading
- Province of birth
- Bamyan: Bamyan
- Gender
- Male
- Ethnicity
- Sadat
- District geolocation of incident
- Yakawlang: 34° 44′ 50″ N, 66° 56′ 40″ E
- Description of incident
The Taliban slaughtered at least 300 Sayyid and Hazara people during an attack on the Yakawlang District of Bamiyan Province on January 7, 2001. Witness accounts state that once the Taliban troops retook Yakawlang on January 7, they started to arrest and ruthlessly kill individuals. In late December 2000, they had lost Yakawlang to Hezb-e Wahdat, an anti-Taliban party that claimed to be supported by the Hazara minority. Additionally, witnesses reported to Amnesty International that Hezb-e Wahdat soldiers executed at least four people in broad daylight during the few days they occupied Yakawlang in late December 2000.
- Witness/Survivor Statement
No statement
Sayed Azizullah Akhlaqi
- Photo of Victim
- Loading
- Province of birth
- Bamyan: Bamyan
- Gender
- Male
- Ethnicity
- Sadat
- District geolocation of incident
- Yakawlang: 34° 44′ 50″ N, 66° 56′ 40″ E
- Description of incident
The Taliban slaughtered at least 300 Sayyid and Hazara people during an attack on the Yakawlang District of Bamiyan Province on January 7, 2001. Witness accounts state that once the Taliban troops retook Yakawlang on January 7, they started to arrest and ruthlessly kill individuals. In late December 2000, they had lost Yakawlang to Hezb-e Wahdat, an anti-Taliban party that claimed to be supported by the Hazara minority. Additionally, witnesses reported to Amnesty International that Hezb-e Wahdat soldiers executed at least four people in broad daylight during the few days they occupied Yakawlang in late December 2000.
- Witness/Survivor Statement
No statement
Sayed Sha Zafar
- Photo of Victim
- Loading
- Province of birth
- Bamyan: Bamyan
- Gender
- Male
- Ethnicity
- Sadat
- District geolocation of incident
- Yakawlang: 34° 44′ 50″ N, 66° 56′ 40″ E
- Description of incident
On January 7, 2001, the Taliban attacked the Yakawlang District of Bamiyan Province and massacred hundreds of Hazara civilians. Many of those who managed to escape and take refuge on the mountains froze to death. On January 8, Taliban members began a house-to-house search across the district. The massacre of Hazaras continued through the 9th, 10th, 11th, and 12th of January. At least 300 Hazaras were executed by the Taliban.
Sayed Azim
- Photo of Victim
- Loading
- Province of birth
- Bamyan: Bamyan
- Gender
- Male
- Ethnicity
- Sadat
- District geolocation of incident
- Yakawlang: 34° 44′ 50″ N, 66° 56′ 40″ E
- Description of incident
On January 7, 2001, the Taliban attacked the Yakawlang District of Bamiyan Province and massacred hundreds of Hazara civilians. Many of those who managed to escape and take refuge on the mountains froze to death. On January 8, Taliban members began a house-to-house search across the district. The massacre of Hazaras continued through the 9th, 10th, 11th, and 12th of January. At least 300 Hazaras were executed by the Taliban.
- Witness/Survivor Statement
On January 7, 2001, the Taliban attacked the Yakaolang district of Bamiyan province and massacred hundreds of Hazara civilians. Many of those who managed to escape and take refuge on the mountains froze to death. On the 8th of January, Taliban members began a house-to-house search across the district. The massacre of Hazaras continued through the 9th, 10th, 11th, and 12th of January. At least 300 Hazaras were either summerly executed or deliberately killed by the Taliban.
Khodadad
- Photo of Victim
- Loading
- Province of birth
- Bamyan: Bamyan
- Gender
- Male
- Ethnicity
- Hazara
- District geolocation of incident
- Yakawlang: 34° 44′ 50″ N, 66° 56′ 40″ E
- Description of incident
The Taliban slaughtered at least 300 Sayyid and Hazara people during an attack on the Yakawlang District of Bamiyan Province on January 7, 2001. Witness accounts state that once the Taliban troops retook Yakawlang on January 7, they started to arrest and ruthlessly kill individuals. In late December 2000, they had lost Yakawlang to Hezb-e Wahdat, an anti-Taliban party that claimed to be supported by the Hazara minority. Additionally, witnesses reported to Amnesty International that Hezb-e Wahdat soldiers executed at least four people in broad daylight during the few days they occupied Yakawlang in late December 2000.
- Witness/Survivor Statement
No statement
Sayed Hassan
- Photo of Victim
- Loading
- Province of birth
- Bamyan: Bamyan
- Gender
- Male
- Ethnicity
- Sadat
- District geolocation of incident
- Yakawlang: 34° 44′ 50″ N, 66° 56′ 40″ E
- Description of incident
On January 7, 2001, the Taliban attacked the Yakawlang District of Bamiyan Province and massacred hundreds of Hazara civilians. Many of those who managed to escape and take refuge on the mountains froze to death. On January 8, Taliban members began a house-to-house search across the district. The massacre of Hazaras continued through the 9th, 10th, 11th, and 12th of January. At least 300 Hazaras were executed by the Taliban.
Sayed Mir Ali
- Photo of Victim
- Loading
- Province of birth
- Bamyan: Bamyan
- Gender
- Male
- Ethnicity
- Sadat
- District geolocation of incident
- Yakawlang: 34° 44′ 50″ N, 66° 56′ 40″ E
- Description of incident
The Taliban slaughtered at least 300 Sayyid and Hazara people during an attack on the Yakawlang District of Bamiyan Province on January 7, 2001. Witness accounts state that once the Taliban troops retook Yakawlang on January 7, they started to arrest and ruthlessly kill individuals. In late December 2000, they had lost Yakawlang to Hezb-e Wahdat, an anti-Taliban party that claimed to be supported by the Hazara minority. Additionally, witnesses reported to Amnesty International that Hezb-e Wahdat soldiers executed at least four people in broad daylight during the few days they occupied Yakawlang in late December 2000.
- Witness/Survivor Statement
No statement
Mohammad Mohsen
- Photo of Victim
- Loading
- Province of birth
- Bamyan: Bamyan
- Gender
- Male
- Ethnicity
- Hazara
- District geolocation of incident
- Yakawlang: 34° 44′ 50″ N, 66° 56′ 40″ E
- Description of incident
On January 7, 2001, the Taliban attacked the Yakawlang District of Bamiyan Province and massacred hundreds of Hazara civilians. Many of those who managed to escape and take refuge on the mountains froze to death. On January 8, Taliban members began a house-to-house search across the district. The massacre of Hazaras continued through the 9th, 10th, 11th, and 12th of January. At least 300 Hazaras were executed by the Taliban.
Sayed Naser
- Photo of Victim
- Loading
- Province of birth
- Bamyan: Bamyan
- Gender
- Male
- Ethnicity
- Sadat
- District geolocation of incident
- Yakawlang: 34° 44′ 50″ N, 66° 56′ 40″ E
- Description of incident
On January 7, 2001, the Taliban attacked the Yakawlang District of Bamiyan Province and massacred hundreds of Hazara civilians. Many of those who managed to escape and take refuge on the mountains froze to death. On January 8, Taliban members began a house-to-house search across the district. The massacre of Hazaras continued through the 9th, 10th, 11th, and 12th of January. At least 300 Hazaras were executed by the Taliban.
Ebad Ali Naji
- Photo of Victim
- Loading
- Province of birth
- Bamyan: Bamyan
- Gender
- Male
- Ethnicity
- Hazara
- District geolocation of incident
- Jalrez: 34° 37′ 46″ N, 68° 39′ 29″ E
- Witness/Survivor Statement
No statement
Abdul Hakim
- Photo of Victim
- Loading
- Province of birth
- Bamyan: Bamyan
- Gender
- Male
- Ethnicity
- Hazara
- District geolocation of incident
- Garmsir: 31° 8′ 1″ N, 64° 12′ 48″ E
- Description of incident
I saw one of his friends who had come with the body. I asked him and he said that they went to Helmand and stayed in Grishk for the night. In the morning, they wanted to go to the Iranian border. They were walking away from the hotel and the market when they heard gunfire. They walked ten steps back and then a bullet hit him. He fell and remained there.
- Witness/Survivor Statement
They brought him covered with a shroud
Narrator: Aminuddin Ahmadi (father)
Victim: Abdul Hakim Ahmadi
The time of the incident: March 2014
The place of the incident: Grishk District, Helmand Province
My name is Aminuddin. My father's name is Ewaz Ahmadi. My son's name is Abdul Hakim. His surname is Ahmadi. He was 21-years-old when he was martyred. He was single and had studied until the ninth grade. At the time of his death, he was a school student. He was with some of his classmates and wanted to go to Iran. He did not say anything about it to me. He had hidden it from me. They were trapped in the middle of a war. He was martyred there in Helmand in Grishk District.
He wanted to go to work because our economic situation was not good. It is still not good now. We were not able to prepare stationary, clothes, and other necessities for him to go to school. He was suffering, so he left. In March 2014, it was raining. None of our family members knew that he left until he reached Kabul. He called me to stop wandering behind me, as I going to Iran.
I told him to come back. I told him in Hazaragi, "There is no bread hanging in Iran for you to collect." He said, "No, I'm going. It's difficult for me to study here." He went with three of his friends. I saw one of his friends who had come with his body. I asked him, and he said that they went to Helmand and stayed in Grishk for the night. In the morning, they wanted to go to the Iranian border. They were walking away from the hotel and the market when they heard gunfire. They walked ten steps back and then a bullet hit him. He fell and remained there.
On the day he was martyred, he remained in Grishk. His friends had called someone in Kabul, probably, as they had friends in the government. So, they coordinated the issue with them. The government brought the body to Kabul and handed him over to the governmental 400 Bed military hospital. Only one bullet hit him on the left side and it came out on the right side.
His friends told us that he was running ahead of them. They said, "He jumped to one side in front of me. I thought somewhere his leg got stuck and fell. I passed him, and I said 'get up and let's go.'" His friend said that Abdul didn't make any sound: "I came a little way back. When he was rolling, he didn't say anything to me. If he did say anything, his conversation was not understood." When they brought him to Kabul. I was in Nayak Bazaar. He had his ID card with him so a government staff member had called relevant officials in Yakawlang District and said that a person reading his name and village had been killed in Grishk, and instructed them to inform his family. I was in the market and I did not know anything about it. A shop keeper from our village called me to go to his shop. I went to his shop and sat in front of his shop.
Then he quickly told me, without introduction, that a man named Abdul Hakim, son of Aminuddin from Tajko Village, was martyred. He asked if I knew him. I said, "No, I don't know." A minute later, I stood and went to the bazaar behind the shop. One of my brothers was in Kabul. I called him, telling him the issue. I found out that someone else had called my brother before calling me, so my brother was already at the hospital. The road to Bamiyan was closed and planes are not accessible to poor people like me. After two days, they left at night. The body came to Bamiyan via Ghorband Valley. The Bamiyan governor cooperated. He provided an ambulance and brought him here. When I heard the news, I went back home. It was already morning. My wife was confused. "What happened?" she asked. "What is up? Why did you come back?" I said that I didn't want to go, and then she looked at me and said, "No, there is a something you aren't telling me." I said that nothing had happened. There is a valley behind our house. I left because she should not know about her son, but she came after me. From there, I turned left and went to my father's house. My father was alive at that time. God forgive me, when I turned left, she followed me again. She followed me and said, "Why are you not telling the truth? What is the matter? Something happened that you are hiding from me."
We were having this conversation when suddenly she fell down as she was paralyzed. None of her arms and legs were working. This was while I had not told her anything yet. You know that our people are a type of people who, when they hear a story, a conversation, they happily go to the top of the hill and shout it and spread that story. I had to say it to my wife myself, as people told me in the market. I told myself that someone may tell her while collecting water or somewhere else, which would not be good for her and me.
So I told her the news. She started crying, she cried loudly. My daughters who was collecting water heard and came to my father’s house. When they arrived at the gate, they understood the story. Whatever was in their hands dropped down and they started crying and moaning. It was a hard time. My younger daughter fell down. Her situation got worse and I had to bring her to the doctor in Yakawlang Hospital. Doctors did not accepted her and referred to Bamiyan Provincial Hospital.
We didn't tell her mother at all where she was. We brought her to Bamiyan Hospital. Bamiyan kept her in bed for three nights. After that, we brought her back. Fatiha ceremony was over. Her mother was always in pain, she was always screaming that she had a headache. We took her to the hospital in Bamiyan. My wife now had a high blood pressure, which was 230 or so. After her son was killed, her blood pressure is always high. My daughter also has a health issue now. If there is any noise, she will fall. Those are my problems.
He was still a child; he did not think about these things that one day his memories would be written. He was a quiet and calm child. If he was sitting in a meeting or in a classroom, he would not speak a single word. If anyone saw, they would think that he might have a problem and maybe he is dumb. But if the teacher asked the lesson, he would explain it the way the teacher explained it. He was extremely sensitive to lies.
We receive 40,000 AFN/year from the Martyrs and Disabled Department. To be honest, in the current situation, we do not have any expectations of government officials because they are corrupt. If you go to them, they would expect you to give them some money. What else can we expect from this kind of the government? His nine grade school books and a picture are left. His friends brought his phone too. Yes, the only thing they brought to me from there is his phone. They didn't bring us any of his clothes from there. They brought him in a shroud from there.
We gave him his clothes here. He had some kind of new clothes. I hid his phone from his mother and his sisters so that they wouldn't see it. I will keep those books and photo in the museum. What can I say about him? Nothing to say. He left us alone. May God grant him paradise. I pray for his soul to be happy.
Reza Bakhsh Zawar
- Photo of Victim
- Loading
- Province of birth
- Bamyan: Bamyan
- Gender
- Male
- Ethnicity
- Hazara
- District geolocation of incident
- Bamyan: 34° 48′ 44″ N, 67° 49′ 14″ E
- Description of incident
In the spring of 1979, Reza Bakhsh Zawar was shot and killed by Soviet forces in the Shahidan neighbourhood of central Bamyan. Soviet airplanes opened fire on the Shahidan people, killing Reza Bakhsh Zawar and around forty other people. He took one gunshot to the head and another to the chest. The remains of the victims laid on the ground for many days until the Soviet aircraft raids stopped, forcing the locals to dig mass graves and bury the bodies in their clothing without shrouds.
- Witness/Survivor Statement
He Died from Attack Helicopter Bullets
Husniya Khademi is a housewife and is the third narrator of this incident. She is narrating from her mother’s perspective. This story tells of the massacre in Bamiyan during the Soviet occupation. Many lost their lives at that time and bodies were buried in mass graves.
Narrator: Husniya Khademi (granddaughter of a sibling)
Victim: Reza Bakhsh Zawar (43-years-old)
Place of incident: Shahidan, Bamiyan Province
Date of incident: 1979
In spring of 1979, the Soviet soldiers shot him to death in the Shahidan area of Bamiyan Province. Reza Bakhsh Zawar was born in Norka Village, Sia Dara area of Bamiyan Province. During the years of the Soviet attacks, my mother’s uncle went to Shahidan area to look after his nephew. As a result of the rounds of fire by Soviet attack helicopters on the people of Shahidan area, he, along with forty other people, were killed. One bullet hit his head and the other hit his chest. The dead bodies remained on the ground for several days until the Soviet attacks calmed down, after which the people gathered to bury all the bodies in a mass grave without any graveclothes.
My mother’s uncle (Reza Bakhsh Zawar) was a farmer. He was married with a daughter and a son. His parents had died previously and he did not have any siblings. His body was left where he had died for a week. His wife did not know about his death, but after my father went to that area and came back, he informed her. His wife left the village one month after his death. Their house, which my uncle is taking care of, is still there to this day. The widow was the breadwinner of the family and they migrated to Iran where she worked to support two of her children. Afterward, her son broke his leg in a traffic accident and he can no longer work. Also, my mother’s aunt, who had cancer, went to Iran but passed away in the spring of 2019. She left behind two sons and two daughters.
The life of Reza Bakhsh Zawar’s widow was good in Iran at the beginning, but her son’s (Asad) traffic accident has caused a toll on them. The victim’s widow passed away last year in Iran, and her daughter also passed away this year. Asad is married and has one daughter. He is forced to provide for her despite his physical disadvantage.