On the night of November 23, 2022, forces from the Taliban Security Command and the General Directorate of Intelligence (GDI) conducted an operation in the village of Sare-e-Siwak, located in the central district of Nili, Daikundi province. The operation began with the encirclement of the village, focusing on particular residences. In the early hours of the following morning, as residents prepared for morning prayers, nine individuals from two families, including four minors, were fatally shot, and two sustained injuries. Additionally, five individuals were detained, with one subsequently reported missing. Reports suggest that the operation was initiated based on erroneous information attributed to a local commander and his associates, stemming from previous disputes and personal animosity, alleging insurgent activities by the victims.

On the night of the incident, he finished work and went to a wedding he was invited to, where he was until midnight. At the exact moment he returned to his home in the Ahmadzai market to sleep, a suicide-bomber detonated his truck at a nearby army camp. It destroyed the entire market. Hashim was killed, along with 14 others. More than 280 people were injured in this incident.

The Story of Zarbaig Sarwary (Mother in-law)

Victim’s Name: Abdul Hashim

Place of Incident: Siasang Shah Shahid, Ahmadzai Market, Kabul

Date of Incident: 06 August 2015

Abdul Hashim was only 23 when he was killed. He was my son in-law, but he was much more than that to me. I had raised him after he lost his mother in childhood. He was my son too. I did all that I could to raise him to be a good and useful person in our society. He was a calm, peaceful, and faithful person. On the night of the incident, he finished work and went to a wedding he was invited to, where he was until midnight. At the exact moment he returned to his home at the Ahmadzai market to sleep, a suicide-bomber detonated his truck at a nearby army camp. It destroyed the entire market. Hashim was killed, along with 14 others. More than 280 people were injured in this incident.

When Hashim was killed, I had to take care of my daughter and her two-year-old child. I also have to support my widowed sister, who is living in a tent in my backyard with her children, and I support my mother. They have no one else to protect or to support them. Whatever I earn, I share with everyone at home so that we can survive. We are all suffering.

My daughter has had mental disorders since her husband was killed. She is always sad, and she is suffering from anemia. She and her child live a hard life. I do all I can for them, but I have little to offer as I was disabled during the civil war in 1993.

The government has done nothing for us despite the fact that I went to different government offices for support. I asked them to come and visit my home to see the conditions of the victims’ families, but no one from the government ever bothered to come and check. It is disappointing.

On May 8, 2021, a devastating suicide bombing took place at Sayed Al-Shuhada High School in Dasht-e-Barchi, a predominantly Hazara area in the western outskirts of Kabul. The attack resulted in the tragic loss of approximately 85 lives, most of whom were teenage schoolgirls. Additionally, the incident left 147 people wounded.

No statemetn

On May 8, 2021, a devastating suicide bombing took place at Sayed Al-Shuhada High School in Dasht-e-Barchi, a predominantly Hazara area in the western outskirts of Kabul. The attack resulted in the tragic loss of approximately 85 lives, most of whom were teenage schoolgirls. Additionally, the incident left 147 people wounded.

No statemetn

On May 8, 2021, a devastating suicide bombing took place at Sayed Al-Shuhada High School in Dasht-e-Barchi, a predominantly Hazara area in the western outskirts of Kabul. The attack resulted in the tragic loss of approximately 85 lives, most of whom were teenage schoolgirls. Additionally, the incident left 147 people wounded.

No statemetn

On May 8, 2021, a devastating suicide bombing took place at Sayed Al-Shuhada High School in Dasht-e-Barchi, a predominantly Hazara area in the western outskirts of Kabul. The attack resulted in the tragic loss of approximately 85 lives, most of whom were teenage schoolgirls. Additionally, the incident left 147 people wounded.

No statemetn

On May 8, 2021, a devastating suicide bombing took place at Sayed Al-Shuhada High School in Dasht-e-Barchi, a predominantly Hazara area in the western outskirts of Kabul. The attack resulted in the tragic loss of approximately 85 lives, most of whom were teenage schoolgirls. Additionally, the incident left 147 people wounded.

No statemetn

On May 8, 2021, a devastating suicide bombing took place at Sayed Al-Shuhada High School in Dasht-e-Barchi, a predominantly Hazara area in the western outskirts of Kabul. The attack resulted in the tragic loss of approximately 85 lives, most of whom were teenage schoolgirls. Additionally, the incident left 147 people wounded.

No statemetn

On May 8, 2021, a devastating suicide bombing took place at Sayed Al-Shuhada High School in Dasht-e-Barchi, a predominantly Hazara area in the western outskirts of Kabul. The attack resulted in the tragic loss of approximately 85 lives, most of whom were teenage schoolgirls. Additionally, the incident left 147 people wounded.

No statemetn

On May 8, 2021, a devastating suicide bombing took place at Sayed Al-Shuhada High School in Dasht-e-Barchi, a predominantly Hazara area in the western outskirts of Kabul. The attack resulted in the tragic loss of approximately 85 lives, most of whom were teenage schoolgirls. Additionally, the incident left 147 people wounded.

No statemetn

On May 8, 2021, a devastating suicide bombing took place at Sayed Al-Shuhada High School in Dasht-e-Barchi, a predominantly Hazara area in the western outskirts of Kabul. The attack resulted in the tragic loss of approximately 85 lives, most of whom were teenage schoolgirls. Additionally, the incident left 147 people wounded.

No statemetn

On May 8, 2021, a devastating suicide bombing took place at Sayed Al-Shuhada High School in Dasht-e-Barchi, a predominantly Hazara area in the western outskirts of Kabul. The attack resulted in the tragic loss of approximately 85 lives, most of whom were teenage schoolgirls. Additionally, the incident left 147 people wounded.

No statemetn

On May 8, 2021, a devastating suicide bombing took place at Sayed Al-Shuhada High School in Dasht-e-Barchi, a predominantly Hazara area in the western outskirts of Kabul. The attack resulted in the tragic loss of approximately 85 lives, most of whom were teenage schoolgirls. Additionally, the incident left 147 people wounded.

No statement

On May 8, 2021, a devastating suicide bombing took place at Sayed Al-Shuhada High School in Dasht-e-Barchi, a predominantly Hazara area in the western outskirts of Kabul. The attack resulted in the tragic loss of approximately 85 lives, most of whom were teenage schoolgirls. Additionally, the incident left 147 people wounded.

No statemetn

On May 8, 2021, a devastating suicide bombing took place at Sayed Al-Shuhada High School in Dasht-e-Barchi, a predominantly Hazara area in the western outskirts of Kabul. The attack resulted in the tragic loss of approximately 85 lives, most of whom were teenage schoolgirls. Additionally, the incident left 147 people wounded.

No statemetn

On May 8, 2021, a devastating suicide bombing took place at Sayed Al-Shuhada High School in Dasht-e-Barchi, a predominantly Hazara area in the western outskirts of Kabul. The attack resulted in the tragic loss of approximately 85 lives, most of whom were teenage schoolgirls. Additionally, the incident left 147 people wounded.

No statement

On May 8, 2021, a devastating suicide bombing took place at Sayed Al-Shuhada High School in Dasht-e-Barchi, a predominantly Hazara area in the western outskirts of Kabul. The attack resulted in the tragic loss of approximately 85 lives, most of whom were teenage schoolgirls. Additionally, the incident left 147 people wounded.

No statemetn

On May 8, 2021, a devastating suicide bombing took place at Sayed Al-Shuhada High School in Dasht-e-Barchi, a predominantly Hazara area in the western outskirts of Kabul. The attack resulted in the tragic loss of approximately 85 lives, most of whom were teenage schoolgirls. Additionally, the incident left 147 people wounded.

No statemetn

On May 8, 2021, a devastating suicide bombing took place at Sayed Al-Shuhada High School in Dasht-e-Barchi, a predominantly Hazara area in the western outskirts of Kabul. The attack resulted in the tragic loss of approximately 85 lives, most of whom were teenage schoolgirls. Additionally, the incident left 147 people wounded.

No statemetn

On May 8, 2021, a devastating suicide bombing took place at Sayed Al-Shuhada High School in Dasht-e-Barchi, a predominantly Hazara area in the western outskirts of Kabul. The attack resulted in the tragic loss of approximately 85 lives, most of whom were teenage schoolgirls. Additionally, the incident left 147 people wounded.

No statemetn

On May 8, 2021, a devastating suicide bombing took place at Sayed Al-Shuhada High School in Dasht-e-Barchi, a predominantly Hazara area in the western outskirts of Kabul. The attack resulted in the tragic loss of approximately 85 lives, most of whom were teenage schoolgirls. Additionally, the incident left 147 people wounded.

No statement

On May 8, 2021, a devastating suicide bombing took place at Sayed Al-Shuhada High School in Dasht-e-Barchi, a predominantly Hazara area in the western outskirts of Kabul. The attack resulted in the tragic loss of approximately 85 lives, most of whom were teenage schoolgirls. Additionally, the incident left 147 people wounded.

No statement

On May 8, 2021, a devastating suicide bombing took place at Sayed Al-Shuhada High School in Dasht-e-Barchi, a predominantly Hazara area in the western outskirts of Kabul. The attack resulted in the tragic loss of approximately 85 lives, most of whom were teenage schoolgirls. Additionally, the incident left 147 people wounded.

No statemetn

On May 8, 2021, a devastating suicide bombing took place at Sayed Al-Shuhada High School in Dasht-e-Barchi, a predominantly Hazara area in the western outskirts of Kabul. The attack resulted in the tragic loss of approximately 85 lives, most of whom were teenage schoolgirls. Additionally, the incident left 147 people wounded.

No statemetn

On May 8, 2021, a devastating suicide bombing took place at Sayed Al-Shuhada High School in Dasht-e-Barchi, a predominantly Hazara area in the western outskirts of Kabul. The attack resulted in the tragic loss of approximately 85 lives, most of whom were teenage schoolgirls. Additionally, the incident left 147 people wounded.

No statemetn

On May 8, 2021, a devastating suicide bombing took place at Sayed Al-Shuhada High School in Dasht-e-Barchi, a predominantly Hazara area in the western outskirts of Kabul. The attack resulted in the tragic loss of approximately 85 lives, most of whom were teenage schoolgirls. Additionally, the incident left 147 people wounded.

No statemetn

On May 8, 2021, a devastating suicide bombing took place at Sayed Al-Shuhada High School in Dasht-e-Barchi, a predominantly Hazara area in the western outskirts of Kabul. The attack resulted in the tragic loss of approximately 85 lives, most of whom were teenage schoolgirls. Additionally, the incident left 147 people wounded.

No statemetn

On May 8, 2021, a devastating suicide bombing took place at Sayed Al-Shuhada High School in Dasht-e-Barchi, a predominantly Hazara area in the western outskirts of Kabul. The attack resulted in the tragic loss of approximately 85 lives, most of whom were teenage schoolgirls. Additionally, the incident left 147 people wounded.

No statemetn

On May 8, 2021, a devastating suicide bombing took place at Sayed Al-Shuhada High School in Dasht-e-Barchi, a predominantly Hazara area in the western outskirts of Kabul. The attack resulted in the tragic loss of approximately 85 lives, most of whom were teenage schoolgirls. Additionally, the incident left 147 people wounded.

No statemetn

On May 8, 2021, a devastating suicide bombing took place at Sayed Al-Shuhada High School in Dasht-e-Barchi, a predominantly Hazara area in the western outskirts of Kabul. The attack resulted in the tragic loss of approximately 85 lives, most of whom were teenage schoolgirls. Additionally, the incident left 147 people wounded.

No statement

The Sayed Al-Shuhada High School attack in Kabul was a devastating suicide bombing that occurred on May 8, 2021. The attack resulted in the tragic loss of approximately 85 lives, most of whom were teenage schoolgirls. Additionally, the incident left 147 people wounded. The bombing took place outside the Sayed Al-Shuhada school in the western outskirt of Kabul Hazara, the dominant area of Dash-et-Barchi.

No statemetn

The Sayed Al-Shuhada High School attack in Kabul was a devastating suicide bombing that occurred on May 8, 2021. The attack resulted in the tragic loss of approximately 85 lives, most of whom were teenage schoolgirls. Additionally, the incident left 147 people wounded. The bombing took place outside the Sayed Al-Shuhada school in the western outskirt of Kabul Hazara, the dominant area of Dash-et-Barchi.

No statemetn

On May 8, 2021, a devastating suicide bombing took place at Sayed Al-Shuhada High School in Dasht-e-Barchi, a predominantly Hazara area in the western outskirts of Kabul. The attack resulted in the tragic loss of approximately 85 lives, most of whom were teenage schoolgirls. Additionally, the incident left 147 people wounded.

No statemetn

On May 8, 2021, a devastating suicide bombing took place at Sayed Al-Shuhada High School in Dasht-e-Barchi, a predominantly Hazara area in the western outskirts of Kabul. The attack resulted in the tragic loss of approximately 85 lives, most of whom were teenage schoolgirls. Additionally, the incident left 147 people wounded.

No statement

On May 8, 2021, a devastating suicide bombing took place at Sayed Al-Shuhada High School in Dasht-e-Barchi, a predominantly Hazara area in the western outskirts of Kabul. The attack resulted in the tragic loss of approximately 85 lives, most of whom were teenage schoolgirls. Additionally, the incident left 147 people wounded.

No statement

On May 8, 2021, a devastating suicide bombing took place at Sayed Al-Shuhada High School in Dasht-e-Barchi, a predominantly Hazara area in the western outskirts of Kabul. The attack resulted in the tragic loss of approximately 85 lives, most of whom were teenage schoolgirls. Additionally, the incident left 147 people wounded.

No statemetn

On May 8, 2021, a devastating suicide bombing took place at Sayed Al-Shuhada High School in Dasht-e-Barchi, a predominantly Hazara area in the western outskirts of Kabul. The attack resulted in the tragic loss of approximately 85 lives, most of whom were teenage schoolgirls. Additionally, the incident left 147 people wounded.

No statemetn

On May 8, 2021, a devastating suicide bombing took place at Sayed Al-Shuhada High School in Dasht-e-Barchi, a predominantly Hazara area in the western outskirts of Kabul. The attack resulted in the tragic loss of approximately 85 lives, most of whom were teenage schoolgirls. Additionally, the incident left 147 people wounded.

No statemetn

On May 8, 2021, a devastating suicide bombing took place at Sayed Al-Shuhada High School in Dasht-e-Barchi, a predominantly Hazara area in the western outskirts of Kabul. The attack resulted in the tragic loss of approximately 85 lives, most of whom were teenage schoolgirls. Additionally, the incident left 147 people wounded.

No statemetn

On May 8, 2021, a devastating suicide bombing took place at Sayed Al-Shuhada High School in Dasht-e-Barchi, a predominantly Hazara area in the western outskirts of Kabul. The attack resulted in the tragic loss of approximately 85 lives, most of whom were teenage schoolgirls. Additionally, the incident left 147 people wounded.

No statemetn

On May 8, 2021, a devastating suicide bombing took place at Sayed Al-Shuhada High School in Dasht-e-Barchi, a predominantly Hazara area in the western outskirts of Kabul. The attack resulted in the tragic loss of approximately 85 lives, most of whom were teenage schoolgirls. Additionally, the incident left 147 people wounded.

No statemetn

On May 8, 2021, a devastating suicide bombing took place at Sayed Al-Shuhada High School in Dasht-e-Barchi, a predominantly Hazara area in the western outskirts of Kabul. The attack resulted in the tragic loss of approximately 85 lives, most of whom were teenage schoolgirls. Additionally, the incident left 147 people wounded.

No statemetn

On May 8, 2021, a devastating suicide bombing took place at Sayed Al-Shuhada High School in Dasht-e-Barchi, a predominantly Hazara area in the western outskirts of Kabul. The attack resulted in the tragic loss of approximately 85 lives, most of whom were teenage schoolgirls. Additionally, the incident left 147 people wounded.

No statemetn

On May 8, 2021, a devastating suicide bombing took place at Sayed Al-Shuhada High School in Dasht-e-Barchi, a predominantly Hazara area in the western outskirts of Kabul. The attack resulted in the tragic loss of approximately 85 lives, most of whom were teenage schoolgirls. Additionally, the incident left 147 people wounded.

No statement

On May 8, 2021, a devastating suicide bombing took place at Sayed Al-Shuhada High School in Dasht-e-Barchi, a predominantly Hazara area in the western outskirts of Kabul. The attack resulted in the tragic loss of approximately 85 lives, most of whom were teenage schoolgirls. Additionally, the incident left 147 people wounded.

No statemetn

On May 8, 2021, a devastating suicide bombing took place at Sayed Al-Shuhada High School in Dasht-e-Barchi, a predominantly Hazara area in the western outskirts of Kabul. The attack resulted in the tragic loss of approximately 85 lives, most of whom were teenage schoolgirls. Additionally, the incident left 147 people wounded.

No statemetn

On May 8, 2021, a devastating suicide bombing took place at Sayed Al-Shuhada High School in Dasht-e-Barchi, a predominantly Hazara area in the western outskirts of Kabul. The attack resulted in the tragic loss of approximately 85 lives, most of whom were teenage schoolgirls. Additionally, the incident left 147 people wounded.

No statemetn

On May 8, 2021, a devastating suicide bombing took place at Sayed Al-Shuhada High School in Dasht-e-Barchi, a predominantly Hazara area in the western outskirts of Kabul. The attack resulted in the tragic loss of approximately 85 lives, most of whom were teenage schoolgirls. Additionally, the incident left 147 people wounded.

No statement

On May 8, 2021, a devastating suicide bombing took place at Sayed Al-Shuhada High School in Dasht-e-Barchi, a predominantly Hazara area in the western outskirts of Kabul. The attack resulted in the tragic loss of approximately 85 lives, most of whom were teenage schoolgirls. Additionally, the incident left 147 people wounded.

No statemetn

On May 8, 2021, a devastating suicide bombing took place at Sayed Al-Shuhada High School in Dasht-e-Barchi, a predominantly Hazara area in the western outskirts of Kabul. The attack resulted in the tragic loss of approximately 85 lives, most of whom were teenage schoolgirls. Additionally, the incident left 147 people wounded.

No statemetn

On May 8, 2021, a devastating suicide bombing took place at Sayed Al-Shuhada High School in Dasht-e-Barchi, a predominantly Hazara area in the western outskirts of Kabul. The attack resulted in the tragic loss of approximately 85 lives, most of whom were teenage schoolgirls. Additionally, the incident left 147 people wounded.

No statemetn

On May 8, 2021, a devastating suicide bombing took place at Sayed Al-Shuhada High School in Dasht-e-Barchi, a predominantly Hazara area in the western outskirts of Kabul. The attack resulted in the tragic loss of approximately 85 lives, most of whom were teenage schoolgirls. Additionally, the incident left 147 people wounded.

No statemetn

On May 8, 2021, a devastating suicide bombing took place at Sayed Al-Shuhada High School in Dasht-e-Barchi, a predominantly Hazara area in the western outskirts of Kabul. The attack resulted in the tragic loss of approximately 85 lives, most of whom were teenage schoolgirls. Additionally, the incident left 147 people wounded.

No statemetn

On May 8, 2021, a devastating suicide bombing took place at Sayed Al-Shuhada High School in Dasht-e-Barchi, a predominantly Hazara area in the western outskirts of Kabul. The attack resulted in the tragic loss of approximately 85 lives, most of whom were teenage schoolgirls. Additionally, the incident left 147 people wounded.

No statemetn

On May 8, 2021, a devastating suicide bombing took place at Sayed Al-Shuhada High School in Dasht-e-Barchi, a predominantly Hazara area in the western outskirts of Kabul. The attack resulted in the tragic loss of approximately 85 lives, most of whom were teenage schoolgirls. Additionally, the incident left 147 people wounded.

No statement

On May 8, 2021, a devastating suicide bombing took place at Sayed Al-Shuhada High School in Dasht-e-Barchi, a predominantly Hazara area in the western outskirts of Kabul. The attack resulted in the tragic loss of approximately 85 lives, most of whom were teenage schoolgirls. Additionally, the incident left 147 people wounded.

No statemetn

On May 8, 2021, a devastating suicide bombing took place at Sayed Al-Shuhada High School in Dasht-e-Barchi, a predominantly Hazara area in the western outskirts of Kabul. The attack resulted in the tragic loss of approximately 85 lives, most of whom were teenage schoolgirls. Additionally, the incident left 147 people wounded.

No statemetn

On May 8, 2021, a devastating suicide bombing took place at Sayed Al-Shuhada High School in Dasht-e-Barchi, a predominantly Hazara area in the western outskirts of Kabul. The attack resulted in the tragic loss of approximately 85 lives, most of whom were teenage schoolgirls. Additionally, the incident left 147 people wounded.

No statement

On May 8, 2021, a devastating suicide bombing took place at Sayed Al-Shuhada High School in Dasht-e-Barchi, a predominantly Hazara area in the western outskirts of Kabul. The attack resulted in the tragic loss of approximately 85 lives, most of whom were teenage schoolgirls. Additionally, the incident left 147 people wounded.

No statement

On May 8, 2021, a devastating suicide bombing took place at Sayed Al-Shuhada High School in Dasht-e-Barchi, a predominantly Hazara area in the western outskirts of Kabul. The attack resulted in the tragic loss of approximately 85 lives, most of whom were teenage schoolgirls. Additionally, the incident left 147 people wounded.

No statemetn

On May 8, 2021, a devastating suicide bombing took place at Sayed Al-Shuhada High School in Dasht-e-Barchi, a predominantly Hazara area in the western outskirts of Kabul. The attack resulted in the tragic loss of approximately 85 lives, most of whom were teenage schoolgirls. Additionally, the incident left 147 people wounded.

No statemetn

On May 8, 2021, a devastating suicide bombing took place at Sayed Al-Shuhada High School in Dasht-e-Barchi, a predominantly Hazara area in the western outskirts of Kabul. The attack resulted in the tragic loss of approximately 85 lives, most of whom were teenage schoolgirls. Additionally, the incident left 147 people wounded.

No statemetn

On May 8, 2021, a devastating suicide bombing took place at Sayed Al-Shuhada High School in Dasht-e-Barchi, a predominantly Hazara area in the western outskirts of Kabul. The attack resulted in the tragic loss of approximately 85 lives, most of whom were teenage schoolgirls. Additionally, the incident left 147 people wounded.

No statement

On May 8, 2021, a devastating suicide bombing took place at Sayed Al-Shuhada High School in Dasht-e-Barchi, a predominantly Hazara area in the western outskirts of Kabul. The attack resulted in the tragic loss of approximately 85 lives, most of whom were teenage schoolgirls. Additionally, the incident left 147 people wounded.

No statemetn

On May 8, 2021, a devastating suicide bombing took place at Sayed Al-Shuhada High School in Dasht-e-Barchi, a predominantly Hazara area in the western outskirts of Kabul. The attack resulted in the tragic loss of approximately 85 lives, most of whom were teenage schoolgirls. Additionally, the incident left 147 people wounded.

No statement

On May 8, 2021, a devastating suicide bombing took place at Sayed Al-Shuhada High School in Dasht-e-Barchi, a predominantly Hazara area in the western outskirts of Kabul. The attack resulted in the tragic loss of approximately 85 lives, most of whom were teenage schoolgirls. Additionally, the incident left 147 people wounded.

No statemetn

On May 8, 2021, a devastating suicide bombing took place at Sayed Al-Shuhada High School in Dasht-e-Barchi, a predominantly Hazara area in the western outskirts of Kabul. The attack resulted in the tragic loss of approximately 85 lives, most of whom were teenage schoolgirls. Additionally, the incident left 147 people wounded.

No statement

On May 8, 2021, a devastating suicide bombing took place at Sayed Al-Shuhada High School in Dasht-e-Barchi, a predominantly Hazara area in the western outskirts of Kabul. The attack resulted in the tragic loss of approximately 85 lives, most of whom were teenage schoolgirls. Additionally, the incident left 147 people wounded.

No statement

On September 5, 2018, a horrific twin suicide bombing struck the Maiwand Wrestling Club in Dasht-e-Barchi, a predominantly Hazara neighborhood in western Kabul, Afghanistan. The first blast ripped through the wrestling club in the early evening, followed by a second explosion targeting first responders and civilians who had gathered to assist the victims. This secondary attack caused even greater casualties. The attacks resulted in the deaths of at least 30 civilians, including two journalists, Samim Framarz and Ramiz Ahmadi. It also injured over 103 others. The Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISIL-KP) claimed responsibility for the bombings, stating they targeted Shia-Hazaras.

No statement

On October 20, 2017, a suicide attack took place in the Imam Zaman Mosque in Dasht-e Barchi, while people were there for prayers. Dasht-e Barchi is the Hazara area of Kabul. As a result of the terrorist attack, 56 people were killed and 55 others were injured.

No statement

On October 20, 2017, a suicide attack took place in the Imam Zaman Mosque in Dasht-e Barchi, while people were there for prayers. Dasht-e Barchi is the Hazara area of Kabul. As a result of the terrorist attack, 56 people were killed and 55 others were injured.

No statement

On October 20, 2017, a suicide attack took place in the Imam Zaman Mosque in Dasht-e Barchi, while people were there for prayers. Dasht-e Barchi is the Hazara area of Kabul. As a result of the terrorist attack, 56 people were killed and 55 others were injured.

No statement

On October 20, 2017, a suicide attack took place in the Imam Zaman Mosque in Dasht-e Barchi, while people were there for prayers. Dasht-e Barchi is the Hazara area of Kabul. As a result of the terrorist attack, 56 people were killed and 55 others were injured.

No statement

On October 20, 2017, a suicide attack took place in the Imam Zaman Mosque in Dasht-e Barchi, while people were there for prayers. Dasht-e Barchi is the Hazara area of Kabul. As a result of the terrorist attack, 56 people were killed and 55 others were injured.

No statement

On October 20, 2017, a suicide attack took place in the Imam Zaman Mosque in Dasht-e Barchi, while people were there for prayers. Dasht-e Barchi is the Hazara area of Kabul. As a result of the terrorist attack, 56 people were killed and 55 others were injured.

No statement

On October 20, 2017, a suicide attack took place in the Imam Zaman Mosque in Dasht-e Barchi, while people were there for prayers. Dasht-e Barchi is the Hazara area of Kabul. As a result of the terrorist attack, 56 people were killed and 55 others were injured.

No statement

On October 20, 2017, a suicide attack took place in the Imam Zaman Mosque in Dasht-e Barchi, while people were there for prayers. Dasht-e Barchi is the Hazara area of Kabul. As a result of the terrorist attack, 56 people were killed and 55 others were injured.

No statement

On October 20, 2017, a suicide attack took place in the Imam Zaman Mosque in Dasht-e Barchi, while people were there for prayers. Dasht-e Barchi is the Hazara area of Kabul. As a result of the terrorist attack, 56 people were killed and 55 others were injured.

No statement

On October 20, 2017, a suicide attack took place in the Imam Zaman Mosque in Dasht-e Barchi, while people were there for prayers. Dasht-e Barchi is the Hazara area of Kabul. As a result of the terrorist attack, 56 people were killed and 55 others were injured.

No statement

On October 20, 2017, a suicide attack took place in the Imam Zaman Mosque in Dasht-e Barchi, while people were there for prayers. Dasht-e Barchi is the Hazara area of Kabul. As a result of the terrorist attack, 56 people were killed and 55 others were injured.

No statement

On October 20, 2017, a suicide attack took place in the Imam Zaman Mosque in Dasht-e Barchi, while people were there for prayers. Dasht-e Barchi is the Hazara area of Kabul. As a result of the terrorist attack, 56 people were killed and 55 others were injured.

No statement

On October 20, 2017, a suicide attack took place in the Imam Zaman Mosque in Dasht-e Barchi, while people were there for prayers. Dasht-e Barchi is the Hazara area of Kabul. As a result of the terrorist attack, 56 people were killed and 55 others were injured.

No statement

On October 20, 2017, a suicide attack took place in the Imam Zaman Mosque in Dasht-e Barchi, while people were there for prayers. Dasht-e Barchi is the Hazara area of Kabul. As a result of the terrorist attack, 56 people were killed and 55 others were injured.

No statement

On October 20, 2017, a suicide attack took place in the Imam Zaman Mosque in Dasht-e Barchi, while people were there for prayers. Dasht-e Barchi is the Hazara area of Kabul. As a result of the terrorist attack, 56 people were killed and 55 others were injured.

No statement

On October 20, 2017, a suicide attack took place in the Imam Zaman Mosque in Dasht-e Barchi, while people were there for prayers. Dasht-e Barchi is the Hazara area of Kabul. As a result of the terrorist attack, 56 people were killed and 55 others were injured.

No statement

On October 20, 2017, a suicide attack took place in the Imam Zaman Mosque in Dasht-e Barchi, while people were there for prayers. Dasht-e Barchi is the Hazara area of Kabul. As a result of the terrorist attack, 56 people were killed and 55 others were injured.

No statement

On October 20, 2017, a suicide attack took place in the Imam Zaman Mosque in Dasht-e Barchi, while people were there for prayers. Dasht-e Barchi is the Hazara area of Kabul. As a result of the terrorist attack, 56 people were killed and 55 others were injured.

No statement

On October 20, 2017, a suicide attack took place in the Imam Zaman Mosque in Dasht-e Barchi, while people were there for prayers. Dasht-e Barchi is the Hazara area of Kabul. As a result of the terrorist attack, 56 people were killed and 55 others were injured.

No statement

On October 20, 2017, a suicide attack took place in the Imam Zaman Mosque in Dasht-e Barchi, while people were there for prayers. Dasht-e Barchi is the Hazara area of Kabul. As a result of the terrorist attack, 56 people were killed and 55 others were injured.

No statement

On October 20, 2017, a suicide attack took place in the Imam Zaman Mosque in Dasht-e Barchi, while people were there for prayers. Dasht-e Barchi is the Hazara area of Kabul. As a result of the terrorist attack, 56 people were killed and 55 others were injured.

No statemetn

On October 20, 2017, a suicide attack took place in the Imam Zaman Mosque in Dasht-e Barchi, while people were there for prayers. Dasht-e Barchi is the Hazara area of Kabul. As a result of the terrorist attack, 56 people were killed and 55 others were injured.

No statement

On October 20, 2017, a suicide attack took place in the Imam Zaman Mosque in Dasht-e Barchi, while people were there for prayers. Dasht-e Barchi is the Hazara area of Kabul. As a result of the terrorist attack, 56 people were killed and 55 others were injured.

No statement

On October 20, 2017, a suicide attack took place in the Imam Zaman Mosque in Dasht-e Barchi, while people were there for prayers. Dasht-e Barchi is the Hazara area of Kabul. As a result of the terrorist attack, 56 people were killed and 55 others were injured.

No statement

On October 20, 2017, a suicide attack took place in the Imam Zaman Mosque in Dasht-e Barchi, while people were there for prayers. Dasht-e Barchi is the Hazara area of Kabul. As a result of the terrorist attack, 56 people were killed and 55 others were injured.

No statement

On October 20, 2017, a suicide attack took place in the Imam Zaman Mosque in Dasht-e Barchi, while people were there for prayers. Dasht-e Barchi is the Hazara area of Kabul. As a result of the terrorist attack, 56 people were killed and 55 others were injured.

No statement

On October 20, 2017, a suicide attack took place in the Imam Zaman Mosque in Dasht-e Barchi, while people were there for prayers. Dasht-e Barchi is the Hazara area of Kabul. As a result of the terrorist attack, 56 people were killed and 55 others were injured.

No statement

On October 20, 2017, a suicide attack took place in the Imam Zaman Mosque in Dasht-e Barchi, while people were there for prayers. Dasht-e Barchi is the Hazara area of Kabul. As a result of the terrorist attack, 56 people were killed and 55 others were injured.

No statement

On October 20, 2017, a suicide attack took place in the Imam Zaman Mosque in Dasht-e Barchi, while people were there for prayers. Dasht-e Barchi is the Hazara area of Kabul. As a result of the terrorist attack, 56 people were killed and 55 others were injured.

No statement

On October 20, 2017, a suicide attack took place in the Imam Zaman Mosque in Dasht-e Barchi, while people were there for prayers. Dasht-e Barchi is the Hazara area of Kabul. As a result of the terrorist attack, 56 people were killed and 55 others were injured.

No statement

On October 20, 2017, a suicide attack took place in the Imam Zaman Mosque in Dasht-e Barchi, while people were there for prayers. Dasht-e Barchi is the Hazara area of Kabul. As a result of the terrorist attack, 56 people were killed and 55 others were injured.

No statement

On October 20, 2017, a suicide attack took place in the Imam Zaman Mosque in Dasht-e Barchi, while people were there for prayers. Dasht-e Barchi is the Hazara area of Kabul. As a result of the terrorist attack, 56 people were killed and 55 others were injured.

No statement

On October 20, 2017, a suicide attack took place in the Imam Zaman Mosque in Dasht-e Barchi, while people were there for prayers. Dasht-e Barchi is the Hazara area of Kabul. As a result of the terrorist attack, 56 people were killed and 55 others were injured.

No statement

On October 20, 2017, a suicide attack took place in the Imam Zaman Mosque in Dasht-e Barchi, while people were there for prayers. Dasht-e Barchi is the Hazara area of Kabul. As a result of the terrorist attack, 56 people were killed and 55 others were injured.

No statement

On October 20, 2017, a suicide attack took place in the Imam Zaman Mosque in Dasht-e Barchi, while people were there for prayers. Dasht-e Barchi is the Hazara area of Kabul. As a result of the terrorist attack, 56 people were killed and 55 others were injured.

No statement

On October 20, 2017, a suicide attack took place in the Imam Zaman Mosque in Dasht-e Barchi, while people were there for prayers. Dasht-e Barchi is the Hazara area of Kabul. As a result of the terrorist attack, 56 people were killed and 55 others were injured.

No statement

On October 20, 2017, a suicide attack took place in the Imam Zaman Mosque in Dasht-e Barchi, while people were there for prayers. Dasht-e Barchi is the Hazara area of Kabul. As a result of the terrorist attack, 56 people were killed and 55 others were injured.

No statement

On October 20, 2017, a suicide attack took place in the Imam Zaman Mosque in Dasht-e Barchi, while people were there for prayers. Dasht-e Barchi is the Hazara area of Kabul. As a result of the terrorist attack, 56 people were killed and 55 others were injured.

No statement

On October 20, 2017, a suicide attack took place in the Imam Zaman Mosque in Dasht-e Barchi, while people were there for prayers. Dasht-e Barchi is the Hazara area of Kabul. As a result of the terrorist attack, 56 people were killed and 55 others were injured.

No statement

On the morning of Friday, November 14, 2025, Nowruz, an approximately 30-year-old father of two children, was killed in an armed attack in Qoto Sofla village, DaY Mirdad district, Maidan Wardak Province. The victim was shot as he left his home. His brother, Rahmatullah, who had followed him outside, was also shot and critically injured with a head wound. Rahmatullah was transferred to Emergency Hospital in Kabul and placed in a coma under medical care. According to local residents who confirmed the incident, Nowruz was an original resident of Qoto village. He and his family had been displaced to Kabul and other villages in recent years and had only recently returned to their ancestral home. Local sources reported that the four attackers had concealed themselves the night before the assault in the neighboring village of Qoto Ulya, which is uninhabited. On the morning of the attack, they approached Qoto Sofla through a mountain route and opened fire on Nowruz as he exited his home. Taliban intelligence authorities arrested four Kochi (nomadic Pashtuns) men on suspicion of involvement in the attack. The motive for the assault remains unclear; however, local sources indicated that Kochies had conducted repeated attacks on Qoto village residents in the past, forcing them to flee. According to these sources, more than 200 families once lived in both Qoto villages, but the area became largely uninhabited over the past decade due to repeated attacks. Nowruz's family was reportedly the first to return to the village within the past two years, driven by economic difficulties in Kabul. Local residents stated that the killing appeared aimed at preventing villagers from returning to their homes.

On November 20, 2025, Noorullah, a 14-year-old boy from Qoto village in Day Mirdad district, Maidan Wardak Province, died following a severe trauma-related illness. Noorullah was the younger brother of Nowruz, who was killed in an armed attack on November 14, 2025, and Rahmatullah, who was critically injured in the same incident when two armed Kochi men (nomadic Pushtuns) opened fire as they were getting out of their home early morning. According to local residents, Noorullah experienced severe psychological shock immediately following the attack on his brothers. He subsequently developed physical symptoms, including progressive fever and vomiting blood. After six days of crying and deteriorating health, Noorullah died on November 20, 2025. Local residents reported that while the exact medical cause of death remains undetermined, Noorullah's condition deteriorated rapidly following the traumatic events of November 14. His death represents an indirect casualty connected to the armed attack that killed his eldest brother and left his other brother in critical condition.

Three attackers wearing Afghan national security forces uniforms and armed with AK-47s and hand grenades, attacked. After shooting and killing a security guard at the hospital entrance, they entered the hospital and headed directly to the maternity ward, moving systematically from room to room. There were 28 women in the ward at the time. The attackers fired on patients and threw hand grenades. As a result of the attack, 24 people were killed, including 19 women and three children,35 and 23 more were injured, including 12 women, two children and one newborn. A female healthcare worker was amongst those killed in the attack.

On 15 June, the organization, Médecins Sans Frontiers (MSF), who operated the maternity ward, announced its decision to end activities and withdraw from Dasht-eBarchi hospital.

No statement

On Nov. 21, 2016, a suicide bombing ripped through a Shia Mosque in the Afghan capital, Kabul, causing immense devastation. The blast occurred at the Baqir ul Olum mosque in the Darul Aman area, targeting worshippers gathered to mark the culmination of a significant religious period. The attack resulted in the tragic loss of at least 32 lives, predominantly Hazaras. At least 64 others were injured, many with severe wounds.

No statement

On Nov. 21, 2016, a suicide bombing ripped through a Shia Mosque in the Afghan capital, Kabul, causing immense devastation. The blast occurred at the Baqir ul Olum mosque in the Darul Aman area, targeting worshippers gathered to mark the culmination of a significant religious period. The attack resulted in the tragic loss of at least 32 lives, predominantly Hazaras. At least 64 others were injured, many with severe wounds.

No statement

On Nov. 21, 2016, a suicide bombing ripped through a Shia Mosque in the Afghan capital, Kabul, causing immense devastation. The blast occurred at the Baqir ul Olum mosque in the Darul Aman area, targeting worshippers gathered to mark the culmination of a significant religious period. The attack resulted in the tragic loss of at least 32 lives, predominantly Hazaras. At least 64 others were injured, many with severe wounds.

No statement

A suicide bomber detonated explosives inside a Shia Mosque in the Afghan capital of Kabul. At least 53 people were killed and dozens of others were wounded. The explosion happened at the Baqir ul Olum mosque in the Darul Aman area as people gathered to mark the end of an important religious period.

No statement

A suicide bomber detonated explosives inside a Shia Mosque in the Afghan capital of Kabul. At least 53 people were killed and dozens of others were wounded. The explosion happened at the Baqir ul Olum mosque in the Darul Aman area as people gathered to mark the end of an important religious period.

No statement

A suicide bomber detonated explosives inside a Shia Mosque in the Afghan capital of Kabul. At least 53 people were killed and dozens of others were wounded. The explosion happened at the Baqir ul Olum mosque in the Darul Aman area as people gathered to mark the end of an important religious period.

No statement

A suicide bomber detonated explosives inside a Shia Mosque in the Afghan capital of Kabul. At least 53 people were killed and dozens of others were wounded. The explosion happened at the Baqir ul Olum mosque in the Darul Aman area as people gathered to mark the end of an important religious period.

No statement

A suicide bomber detonated explosives inside a Shia Mosque in the Afghan capital of Kabul. At least 53 people were killed and dozens of others were wounded. The explosion happened at the Baqir ul Olum mosque in the Darul Aman area as people gathered to mark the end of an important religious period.

No statement

On Nov. 21, 2016, a suicide bombing ripped through a Shia Mosque in the Afghan capital, Kabul, causing immense devastation. The blast occurred at the Baqir ul Olum mosque in the Darul Aman area, targeting worshippers gathered to mark the culmination of a significant religious period. The attack resulted in the tragic loss of at least 32 lives, predominantly Hazaras. At least 64 others were injured, many with severe wounds.

No statement

On Nov. 21, 2016, a suicide bombing ripped through a Shia Mosque in the Afghan capital, Kabul, causing immense devastation. The blast occurred at the Baqir ul Olum mosque in the Darul Aman area, targeting worshippers gathered to mark the culmination of a significant religious period. The attack resulted in the tragic loss of at least 32 lives, predominantly Hazaras. At least 64 others were injured, many with severe wounds.

No statement

On Nov. 21, 2016, a suicide bombing ripped through a Shia Mosque in the Afghan capital, Kabul, causing immense devastation. The blast occurred at the Baqir ul Olum mosque in the Darul Aman area, targeting worshippers gathered to mark the culmination of a significant religious period. The attack resulted in the tragic loss of at least 32 lives, predominantly Hazaras. At least 64 others were injured, many with severe wounds.

No statement

On Nov. 21, 2016, a suicide bombing ripped through a Shia Mosque in the Afghan capital, Kabul, causing immense devastation. The blast occurred at the Baqir ul Olum mosque in the Darul Aman area, targeting worshippers gathered to mark the culmination of a significant religious period. The attack resulted in the tragic loss of at least 32 lives, predominantly Hazaras. At least 64 others were injured, many with severe wounds.

No statement

On Nov. 21, 2016, a suicide bombing ripped through a Shia Mosque in the Afghan capital, Kabul, causing immense devastation. The blast occurred at the Baqir ul Olum mosque in the Darul Aman area, targeting worshippers gathered to mark the culmination of a significant religious period. The attack resulted in the tragic loss of at least 32 lives, predominantly Hazaras. At least 64 others were injured, many with severe wounds.

No statement

On Nov. 21, 2016, a suicide bombing ripped through a Shia Mosque in the Afghan capital, Kabul, causing immense devastation. The blast occurred at the Baqir ul Olum mosque in the Darul Aman area, targeting worshippers gathered to mark the culmination of a significant religious period. The attack resulted in the tragic loss of at least 32 lives, predominantly Hazaras. At least 64 others were injured, many with severe wounds.

No statement

On Nov. 21, 2016, a suicide bombing ripped through a Shia Mosque in the Afghan capital, Kabul, causing immense devastation. The blast occurred at the Baqir ul Olum mosque in the Darul Aman area, targeting worshippers gathered to mark the culmination of a significant religious period. The attack resulted in the tragic loss of at least 32 lives, predominantly Hazaras. At least 64 others were injured, many with severe wounds.

No statement

On Nov. 21, 2016, a suicide bombing ripped through a Shia Mosque in the Afghan capital, Kabul, causing immense devastation. The blast occurred at the Baqir ul Olum mosque in the Darul Aman area, targeting worshippers gathered to mark the culmination of a significant religious period. The attack resulted in the tragic loss of at least 32 lives, predominantly Hazaras. At least 64 others were injured, many with severe wounds.

No statement

On Nov. 21, 2016, a suicide bombing ripped through a Shia Mosque in the Afghan capital, Kabul, causing immense devastation. The blast occurred at the Baqir ul Olum mosque in the Darul Aman area, targeting worshippers gathered to mark the culmination of a significant religious period. The attack resulted in the tragic loss of at least 32 lives, predominantly Hazaras. At least 64 others were injured, many with severe wounds.

No statement

On Nov. 21, 2016, a suicide bombing ripped through a Shia Mosque in the Afghan capital, Kabul, causing immense devastation. The blast occurred at the Baqir ul Olum mosque in the Darul Aman area, targeting worshippers gathered to mark the culmination of a significant religious period. The attack resulted in the tragic loss of at least 32 lives, predominantly Hazaras. At least 64 others were injured, many with severe wounds.

No statement

On Nov. 21, 2016, a suicide bombing ripped through a Shia Mosque in the Afghan capital, Kabul, causing immense devastation. The blast occurred at the Baqir ul Olum mosque in the Darul Aman area, targeting worshippers gathered to mark the culmination of a significant religious period. The attack resulted in the tragic loss of at least 32 lives, predominantly Hazaras. At least 64 others were injured, many with severe wounds.

No statement

On Nov. 21, 2016, a suicide bombing ripped through a Shia Mosque in the Afghan capital, Kabul, causing immense devastation. The blast occurred at the Baqir ul Olum mosque in the Darul Aman area, targeting worshippers gathered to mark the culmination of a significant religious period. The attack resulted in the tragic loss of at least 32 lives, predominantly Hazaras. At least 64 others were injured, many with severe wounds.

No statement

On Nov. 21, 2016, a suicide bombing ripped through a Shia Mosque in the Afghan capital, Kabul, causing immense devastation. The blast occurred at the Baqir ul Olum mosque in the Darul Aman area, targeting worshippers gathered to mark the culmination of a significant religious period. The attack resulted in the tragic loss of at least 32 lives, predominantly Hazaras. At least 64 others were injured, many with severe wounds.

No statement

A suicide bomber detonated explosives inside a Shia Mosque in the Afghan capital of Kabul. At least 53 people were killed and dozens of others were wounded. The explosion happened at the Baqir ul Olum mosque in the Darul Aman area as people gathered to mark the end of an important religious period.

No statement

A suicide bomber detonated explosives inside a Shia Mosque in the Afghan capital of Kabul. At least 53 people were killed and dozens of others were wounded. The explosion happened at the Baqir ul Olum mosque in the Darul Aman area as people gathered to mark the end of an important religious period.

No statement

A suicide bomber detonated explosives inside a Shia Mosque in the Afghan capital of Kabul. At least 53 people were killed and dozens of others were wounded. The explosion happened at the Baqir ul Olum mosque in the Darul Aman area as people gathered to mark the end of an important religious period.

No statement

A suicide bomber detonated explosives inside a Shia Mosque in the Afghan capital of Kabul. At least 53 people were killed and dozens of others were wounded. The explosion happened at the Baqir ul Olum mosque in the Darul Aman area as people gathered to mark the end of an important religious period.

No statement

A suicide bomber detonated explosives inside a Shia Mosque in the Afghan capital of Kabul. At least 53 people were killed and dozens of others were wounded. The explosion happened at the Baqir ul Olum mosque in the Darul Aman area as people gathered to mark the end of an important religious period.

No statement

A suicide bomber detonated explosives inside a Shia Mosque in the Afghan capital of Kabul. At least 53 people were killed and dozens of others were wounded. The explosion happened at the Baqir ul Olum mosque in the Darul Aman area as people gathered to mark the end of an important religious period.

No statement

A suicide bomber detonated explosives inside a Shia Mosque in the Afghan capital of Kabul. At least 53 people were killed and dozens of others were wounded. The explosion happened at the Baqir ul Olum mosque in the Darul Aman area as people gathered to mark the end of an important religious period.

No statement

A suicide bomber detonated explosives inside a Shia Mosque in the Afghan capital of Kabul. At least 53 people were killed and dozens of others were wounded. The explosion happened at the Baqir ul Olum mosque in the Darul Aman area as people gathered to mark the end of an important religious period.

No statement

A suicide bomber detonated explosives inside a Shia Mosque in the Afghan capital of Kabul. At least 53 people were killed and dozens of others were wounded. The explosion happened at the Baqir ul Olum mosque in the Darul Aman area as people gathered to mark the end of an important religious period.

No statement

A suicide bomber detonated explosives inside a Shia Mosque in the Afghan capital of Kabul. At least 53 people were killed and dozens of others were wounded. The explosion happened at the Baqir ul Olum mosque in the Darul Aman area as people gathered to mark the end of an important religious period.

No statement

A suicide bomber detonated explosives inside a Shia Mosque in the Afghan capital of Kabul. At least 53 people were killed and dozens of others were wounded. The explosion happened at the Baqir ul Olum mosque in the Darul Aman area as people gathered to mark the end of an important religious period.

No statement

A suicide bomber detonated explosives inside a Shia Mosque in the Afghan capital of Kabul. At least 53 people were killed and dozens of others were wounded. The explosion happened at the Baqir ul Olum mosque in the Darul Aman area as people gathered to mark the end of an important religious period.

No statement

A suicide bomber detonated explosives inside a Shia Mosque in the Afghan capital of Kabul. At least 53 people were killed and dozens of others were wounded. The explosion happened at the Baqir ul Olum mosque in the Darul Aman area as people gathered to mark the end of an important religious period.

No statement

A suicide bomber detonated explosives inside a Shia Mosque in the Afghan capital of Kabul. At least 53 people were killed and dozens of others were wounded. The explosion happened at the Baqir ul Olum mosque in the Darul Aman area as people gathered to mark the end of an important religious period.

No statement

On July 23, 2016, two suicide bombers denoted their explosives among the protesters at Dehmazang Square in Kabul, the capital city of Afghanistan. The protesters, who were primarily Hazaras, were part of the Enlightenment Movement. They were protesting against the diversion of the TUTAP mega power project which would cause the project to bypass Hazara-dominated areas. At least 84 protesters lost their lives and 260-400 others were injured. The Islamic State of Khorasan Province (ISKP), the regional branch of ISIS, took credit for the attack. However, ISKP later refuted their involvement in the attack.

The Enlightenment Movement, also known as Junbesh-e Roshnayie, was a grassroots civil disobedience movement started by Hazaras in Afghanistan in response to a change in the Fichtner GmbH & Co. KG proposed Energy Supply Improvement Investment Program, unofficially called TUTAP project plans. The change in the project plans would cause it to bypass Hazara regions. The move was seen as perpetuating long-standing anti-Hazara discrimination. Throughout 2016 and 2017, the Enlightenment Movement coordinated large-scale demonstrations against discrimination both domestically in Afghanistan and abroad.

Two Bullets Had Hit Him in The Back

Narrator: Hussain Farahmand (brother)

Victim: Hassan Kamali

Date of the incident: 23 July 2016

Location of the incident: Dehmazang, Kabul City

I am Hussain Farahmand, the brother of martyr Hassan Kamali, who was an engineer. My brother was born on 28th February 1993 in Temran. He attended elementary school at Shalizar School and completed middle and high school at Temran Boys High School. When he was in 11th grade, alongside being a student, he started teaching other students. There was a shortage of teachers in that area at the time. So even as a child, he served as a teacher. In addition to going to school and teaching others, Hassan worked in the local pharmacy in the afternoons to help our father by earning money. Hassan was a very hardworking, social, good-tempered, and humorous boy. He was not obsessed with money; his only goal was to improve his life. In 2012, he passed the university entrance exam and was accepted into the engineering department of the Mining Industry Polytechnic University. My brother scored very high on the entrance exam, with a score of 322 points.

During his school years, he received many commendations from educational centres and even from the university. He came second and third in his class as a first and second-year student. In his third year of university, he worked so hard that he was the top student in his class. He received his letter of commendation in 2016 and phoned to tell me he was top of his class. I was very happy and congratulated him.

When the incident happened on July 23rd, I was in Herat and did not know the details. On the same day, I was in the park to study for my final exam. In the afternoon, I returned to my room to rest and sleep. I had slept for half an hour when my friends reported on Facebook that a suicide attack had happened among demonstrators in Dehmazang, Kabul. One of my roommates knew about it, but I did not.

One of our relatives, who worked at a money exchange office in Kabul, called me and asked, “Do you know where Hassan is?” I immediately called both of his numbers. The phone rang for about 5 minutes but no one picked up. I called my cousin and asked about him. He said that he was in his room until 11:30, and had taken an exam, and he was probably in Kote-Sangi, not at the demonstration. I called the other friends of his I knew. They also said that Hasan had not participated in the rally.

Once he had visited Kote-Sangi, one of his classmates had told him, “You and I got cards yesterday; we must participate in the demonstration."

On July 23, 2016, two suicide bombers denoted their explosives among the protesters at Dehmazang Square in Kabul, the capital city of Afghanistan. The protesters, who were primarily Hazaras, were part of the Enlightenment Movement. They were protesting against the diversion of the TUTAP mega power project which would cause the project to bypass Hazara-dominated areas. At least 84 protesters lost their lives and 260-400 others were injured. The Islamic State of Khorasan Province (ISKP), the regional branch of ISIS, took credit for the attack. However, ISKP later refuted their involvement in the attack.

The Enlightenment Movement, also known as Junbesh-e Roshnayie, was a grassroots civil disobedience movement started by Hazaras in Afghanistan in response to a change in the Fichtner GmbH & Co. KG proposed Energy Supply Improvement Investment Program, unofficially called TUTAP project plans. The change in the project plans would cause it to bypass Hazara regions. The move was seen as perpetuating long-standing anti-Hazara discrimination. Throughout 2016 and 2017, the Enlightenment Movement coordinated large-scale demonstrations against discrimination both domestically in Afghanistan and abroad.

The Phone Was Burnt in The Incident, but the SIM Card Remains Intact

Narrator: Soghra (wife)

Victim: Mohammad Jawad Alipour

Date of the incident: 23 July 2016

Location of the incident: Dehmazang, Kabul City

My husband was born in Mashhad in Iran. When he was 10, he and his family returned to Afghanistan, to the district of Ghorian, in Herat Province. They started working and studying in a compound with some agricultural lands attached. He lived there until he was 17, but they abandoned their land and moved to Herat during the first period of Taliban rule. At the age of 17, he traveled back to Iran and lived there until the age of 22. His family lived in Herat city, and we were acquaintances who had known each other since childhood. Later, they proposed to me to marry their son. At the age of 22, when he returned to the country, we got married immediately. Eight years have passed since our wedding, and we have three children: two boys and one girl. My eldest son is seven-years-old, my second son is four-years-old, and my daughter is three-months-old. She was born after her father’s martyrdom. In Iran, he operated rebar machinery. When he returned to Afghanistan, he lived with us for almost six months. He then joined the National Army. He served in the National Army for nine months in 2010. He was dispatched to the border with Pakistan and his work there was dangerous. Sometimes, he could not even contact us.

His father suffers from cardiovascular disease, so he was concerned about my husband’s health. Following that period of ten months, he didn’t allow his son to continue serving in the national army. Out of respect for his father, he quit his army job after he left hospital [following an injury]. When he returned home, my eldest son was three months old. Once again, my husband had to go to Iran to look for work. He stayed there almost a year and a half. Following his return from Iran, he partnered with one of his friends and started doing welding jobs, and he was still doing this up the time of his martyrdom. One of his dreams was to invent a device. He would always tell me that he wished he had studied more and that our economic situation was better. Then he would make a device that would be recorded as part of the story of his life. I always encouraged him and said, "God is great, and our living situation will improve one day."

He was very interested in reading and read many religious books. He did not have many friends and spent most of his time on Fridays with us and reading books. After finishing Friday prayer and returning home from the mosque, he would always recite the Holy Quran. He has three brothers, but they are not like my husband. Because of his good morals, his father was very fond of him; he was happy with him. When his son was martyred, he was not in a good state of mind. We even moved from the house where we had lived to a different place. His father used to say, “At the time of the morning Azan [call to prayer], I feel my son calling me for prayer and saying: ‘Dad, I have prepared water for you to do your ablutions.’”

In fact, his dream came true as he always wished to become a martyr. In his diary, he detailed the hardships and problems he faced in his childhood, for example, the difficulties he encountered when he was smuggled abroad, and the bitter times he had weaving carpets as a child. After my son was enrolled in kindergarten, my husband would always help him with his homework, despite being very tired after he came home from work. He would say that he had suffered a lot and would leave no stone unturned to help his children educated. Even though I would help my son with his assignments, he was thrilled when his father encouraged him. He would always tell me to set aside a room for our children so that they could study peacefully and become people of influence later in life. I have decided to be an excellent mother to my children until the very last moments of my life. I even try to fill the void left by their father’s death, so that they never feel unprotected and lonely. His caring nature has influenced my own behavior, and made me decide this. He never spoke to me harshly in the eight years of our married life, not even once. Sometimes it was I who was harsh, but he always stayed calm and encouraged me not to get enraged because it was not worth living a sad life.

At night, when chatting with me, he would say, “Soghra, just think for a moment about the resurrection, the grave, and the other world. This world and life are not worth being greedy for or unhappy about.” I used to tell him, “Do you act as you say?” He would say, “Yes, before I go to sleep, I close my eyes for a moment and think about the Day of Resurrection, about the grave, and about good behavior. Once I gain serenity, I easily fall asleep.” Now that we have lost him, I think of his words before going to sleep. I cry and laugh simultaneously at his simplicity and honesty. When I think about him, I miss him greatly. When I recall his words, I fall asleep despite my sadness. May God bless him. We have no bad or unpleasant memories of him; we have only good memories, a lot of them. He used to take me with him for Friday prayers, and after praying, he would call me not to go home alone. He was waiting for me when I came out of the women’s section. On Muharram nights, he would wait for me and we would walk home together, while some people used to go home individually.

On Fridays, he would take me, especially my children, to the park or special shrines to have fun. Because conditions in Afghanistan, especially in Herat, were not good. He used to advise me not to leave the children unattended in the alleyway. He used to say that the kids should have fun. Sometimes his father would worry about us. My husband would secretly take the children to parks and remote areas when it was nice weather so they would not feel distressed. In the last days of Ramadan, he traveled from Kabul to Herat and stayed at home with us for a week after Eid. A day before he returned to Kabul - I don’t know what he was thinking - he took the motorcycle out early in the morning and gave the kids and me a ride across Herat City. He told us, “I want you to see nice and beautiful places in Herat. Maybe I will never return home this time.” Lately, he talked about death and did not let us have a bad time. Every time I recall his actions and approaches, I feel sad, and my heart breaks.

Some people demonstrated in Herat in support of the mandate of the Enlightenment Movement. He wanted to participate but his father did not allow him to, saying he had a bad feeling about it, and would not let him sacrifice himself. But he told his father, “I must participate. We have to support the Hazaras. If we stay home, other people will also stay home, and then who will be at the demonstration, which is our right?” He had a book he would often read, entitled ‘Hazara History.’ He believed the Hazara should be proud.

When he went to Kabul, he didn’t tell us about the July 23rd demonstration. We did not even know he might take part in it. The only person he told that the was going to the rally was his work partner. After finishing work in Kabul, he bought a return ticket to Herat. A few days earlier, he had hurt his foot at work. At 11 o’clock on the day of the incident, I called him and asked him why he had not been more careful, and asked him how he had hurt his leg. He said: “No, it’s fine. My foot was not hurt badly, it is much better now.” He was working in an industrial zone in Kabul. When I asked him where he was, he said he was going to Dehmazang but did not tell me that he was going there to join in the demonstration. That was our last call. After he said goodbye, we never talked to each other again.

Almost 12 days had passed since we’d seen him before he travelled to Kabul, and his work was not finished yet. His cousins, who were working with him, had already returned to Herat on Friday. But he had booked a ticket to return home on Saturday. His cousins had even urged him to go home with them on Friday, but he refused to go on Friday, saying he would return to Herat on Saturday instead. Mainly, they worked in Herat, and their work included cutting, metals, PEB structural sheds, and welding. He had two cutting machines, one in Kabul and the other in Herat. He had gone to Kabul to install this machine.

Whenever he talked about martyrdom, I would immediately stop him and argue against it, saying, “Don’t yearn for martyrdom because if you die one day, what should I do with two sons and the little girl on the way?” He used to say that a person should not grow old because his sins also increase as he ages. He said my children have God, and he knows how to help them and to help me. He would tell me to think of how much he could help us if he became a martyr. He really believed it was not worthwhile living a long life.

After my husband’s martyrdom, my sons always ask about their father. I teach tailoring. On that day, I was in the classroom teaching students when my mother-in-law called me and asked if I knew about Jawad. I told her I had called him, but his phone was switched off. She asked if I had watched TV, and I said no. In the afternoon, the children sleep, and we don’t turn on the TV until their homework is finished and their grandfather has watched the news. Again, she said, go home and turn on the TV. I went home and turned on the TV. TOLO News was airing live footage from Dehmazang. I felt terrible, and my worries increased. My two sons and I did not know about his martyrdom until three days later, when his body was brought to Herat. We did not have anyone to transfer my husband’s body. His brothers and cousins had departed that night [to get his body] but they did not inform me. When I asked them, they said they had not found him. Of course, they had found him, but they wouldn’t tell me anything because of my condition. I was pregnant with my daughter at the time. I just sat all day on the dirt in the front yard, holding the phone in my hand, unable to do anything else. When I cried, my children frequently brought me water. My eldest son said, “Mom! When you cry, I get thirsty.”

When I recall those moments, my heart is on fire; I just shed tears because of this great sorrow. Once I learned about it, the family said that his children shouldn’t see him because it would impact their mental well-being, but I said that it was wrong because if they don’t see their father, they will always wait for him to come. My husband always called my children at night before they went to bed, spoke with them, and asked them what they wanted him to bring them from Kabul. They told their father to get them a bicycle. That’s why I told them it’s better to show them their father’s face.

My younger son didn’t believe that the body was his father’s. When my eldest son saw his father, he said, “Alas, my father sleeps forever.” When my eldest son completes his homework, he tells his little brother every night that their dad has become a butterfly and gone to the sky. He points to the brightest star in the sky and says it is their dad. If my little son makes noise, his big brother will tell him, “Didn’t daddy say don’t bother your mother? If you annoy my mother and me again, he will not forgive you, but since he has become a spirit, he will not return to us.” Even while eating, he says to my younger son, “Didn’t daddy always tell you that you should sit cross-legged at the table?” He recalls his father all the time, and quotes my husband’s statements to his little brother.

I was teaching tailoring from 3 to 6 pm. I got ready at 2:30 and went to the class. I was in my classroom until 5. There was an hour left when my mother-in-law called me and told me to go home. The moment she said her call [to my husband] did not go through, believe me, my hands and feet started shaking. I told my students that I was going home and left the class. When I got home, I turned on the TV. Seeing the painful scenes of Dehmazang, I was crying and kept calling, hoping that an acquaintance might locate my husband. My husband was missing for two nights. My sister-in-law is studying in Kabul, and she tried to find him through Facebook, but every time I called her, she said she did not find anyone named Jawad Hossaindad, and if she did, they belonged to other provinces. My poor son-in-law went to Kabul from Mazar-e-Sharif and started looking for him. I kept phoning his number, and kept asking him about my husband. The poor guy would sometimes not answer my calls when he started to become frustrated with his fruitless searching.

On the day of the incident, when my husband was martyred, somebody had found his phone, taken out the SIM card from his burnt phone, and put it in his own mobile phone. The only number that had appeared on the SIM card was the number of my husband’s uncle. He had contacted the number and had asked whose phone number it was. My husband’s uncle had said that the number belonged to his nephew. Then, the caller said that the phone was burnt in the incident and only the SIM card was left intact. Hearing the news, my husband’s uncle became disappointed and realized that Jawad had been martyred. After hearing the news, he informed my brother-in-law and my brother-in-law booked a ticket and went to Kabul the same night. But they did not tell me anything. Then they spent two nights in Kabul, and on the third night, they said that Jawad was fine and they would return to Herat. I was so happy. I asked why he didn’t call me or talk to me if he was okay. Why didn’t his phone ring? Whenever he went to Kabul, we had made an arrangement that he would call me at 9 in the morning because I was at home in the morning doing tailoring. Then in the evenings, at 6 o’clock I would wait for his call, and once my eldest son finished his homework, he would talk to his dad.

He was not like some other men who treated kids harshly when they got home. When he got home, he would play hide and seek with his children. Children love a happy father; they were always pleased to play with their father. I frequently told him to show some seriousness, but he would say it would be okay if children were guided to the right path through smiles and happiness since they will never be taught by hitting and cursing. One day before the incident (i.e. on Friday) he called and said he felt extremely sad. He asked his children to read him the poems they had learned in kindergarten and school. I feel despondent when I remember what he did on the Friday. When I heard about my husband’s martyrdom, I didn’t eat or drink anything for two days and two nights. When my sisters saw me, they insisted I ate something and said since I was pregnant, if I didn’t eat food, I could become dehydrated, and the baby would be damaged. I told them I had lost my appetite.

The day they found Jawad, his brother called me and said they had found him, he was injured lightly, and they would bring him to Herat. That morning, I was thrilled. I had breakfast, and it was so luscious that I still remember the taste of it. After having breakfast, as soon as I folded the tablecloth, I noticed two vehicles in front of our gate, and all our close and distant relatives were coming through our gate. When they entered, I asked my mother why they had come. My mother said they were there to visit Jawad. As soon as I had eye contact with my brother, my heart trembled. This brother of mine had been friends with my husband since childhood, and he loved him very much. My brother had cried a lot, and his eyes had turned all red. When I looked at my brother, I immediately realized the truth of what had happened. My brother could not look me in the eye. We ran towards each other when I saw him and we cried a lot. I don’t recall those moments clearly. I didn’t know where I was.

In the afternoon, the body was taken to the mosque. I kept comforting myself, hoping that maybe there had been some mistake and that this body was not Jawad. When I looked at my husband’s face, I told myself it was him, but I still comforted myself and wished it was all a terrible mistake. Even now, I think he has gone to work. I don’t believe he was martyred. I visit his grave on Fridays, talk to him and open my heart. I regularly think about the things he used to do. I comfort myself and say that it was his wish to be martyred, and that it’s good that he got what he wanted. Now God is with us. Every person, male or female, has dreams for his life and for his children. I try to fulfill my husband’s wish to educate my children. I try to provide for them through work and tailoring, until they can stand on their own two feet. So that they don’t feel that void left by their father’s death.

My eldest son is a brilliant and kindhearted child. He always talks about his father but never asks me about him. When his little brother asks me about his father, his older brother advises him that I will get upset and that he should stop talking and asking about their father. My little son asks so many questions! We buried my husband in a shrine campus in Jibra’il District. Because my husband’s grave is far from our house, my younger son kept asking questions and misbehaving. He asked questions like: “Why did you bury my dad? Who told you to put him under the ground? Dad will be spoiled there.” The following day, when we visited my husband’s grave, we found another martyr buried next to him. My younger son walked over to his grave and then jumped on his father’s grave and said, “Dad, why did you sleep under the ground? Why can’t I see your hands and feet?” He kept asking why his father’s shirt was not visible. He yelled and asked to dig up the ground and get his father out. Until Eid al-Adha, he was hopeful that his father would come back home. When my nephew talked to him about his father, my son would also say, “My father, too, will come and bring me a gift from Kabul.”

His grandfather always watches the news on TV. When my son hears news of a suicide attack, he says, “My father, too, was martyred in a suicide attack.” In the month of Muharram, when I was taking him out, he would be afraid of the police and say they killed his father. He would cry and say they had killed his father and he would hide under my chador. I have no other demands to make of the government. I just want them to know that they need to pay attention to the children of martyrs. I ask human rights organizations to assist the martyrs’ families. They should provide educational opportunities for the children of martyrs, because if they don’t have access to work and education, they may end up in adverse situations. Economic conditions are an important issue. If youth have access to employment and education, they will never turn to drugs. We all know that poverty is a crucial reason for delinquency among teenagers and youth. I hope my children can study and have a bright future. Sometimes, when I think about how I lost my husband and a life partner at 27, I comfort myself, believing I am not alone and should stay strong.

On July 23, 2016, two suicide bombers denoted their explosives among the protesters at Dehmazang Square in Kabul, the capital city of Afghanistan. The protesters, who were primarily Hazaras, were part of the Enlightenment Movement. They were protesting against the diversion of the TUTAP mega power project which would cause the project to bypass Hazara-dominated areas. At least 84 protesters lost their lives and 260-400 others were injured. The Islamic State of Khorasan Province (ISKP), the regional branch of ISIS, took credit for the attack. However, ISKP later refuted their involvement in the attack.

The Enlightenment Movement, also known as Junbesh-e Roshnayie, was a grassroots civil disobedience movement started by Hazaras in Afghanistan in response to a change in the Fichtner GmbH & Co. KG proposed Energy Supply Improvement Investment Program, unofficially called TUTAP project plans. The change in the project plans would cause it to bypass Hazara regions. The move was seen as perpetuating long-standing anti-Hazara discrimination. Throughout 2016 and 2017, the Enlightenment Movement coordinated large-scale demonstrations against discrimination both domestically in Afghanistan and abroad.

He Rebuilt the School Building

Narrator: Amin Dadfar (brother)

Victim: Reza Ebrahimi

Date of the incident: 23 July 2016

Location of the incident: Dehmazang, Kabul City

My brother was 15-years-old when we lost our father. My other brother, Mohammad Juma, was older than Reza Ebrahimi. Mohammed Juma used to live in Iran and was the breadwinner of the family. This elder brother worked in a field in Iran two days per week and did the hard work assigned by the land owner. He worked there for four years to help the family and left for Iran at the age of 18. The journey was arduous and on the way, he was taken hostage by thieves and imprisoned in the Tal-e Siya prison near the Iran-Afghanistan border. He was kept in jail for two months. They held my brother hostage with ten other people but released his friends and told them to send money when they arrived in Iran to buy my brother’s freedom. Two months later, my brother was finally released and managed to go to Iran.

When he arrived in Iran, he was determined that all his younger brothers should attend school and live a comfortable life. He provided us with money and other necessities of life. One of my brothers, younger than Reza, was not that interested in school. But my older brother and I continued going to school. The second thing Mohammed Juma did for us was to repair and renovate our house in our hometown. During his time in Iran, he engaged in sports. Within five years, he became a sports trainer. After five years in Iran, my elder brother returned to Afghanistan and travelled to our hometown. Reza left for Europe. He traveled with five of his friends and was the group leader. During their journey, they suffered a lot. When a smuggler gave them a boat in the Greek [Aegean]sea, he had to take control of it. He was fearless and helped everyone. One of his friends had become seasick, and he encouraged him to carry on. When they had come across a whale, again, he had comforted others, and they managed to cross the sea.

When they had landed on the coast by morning, one of his friends, who had been very tired, had laid down on the beach but the tide washed him away and my brother immediately jumped into the water and saved him. Then he encouraged everyone to move away from the coast, even though they felt weak. They had to tear up the boat they had sailed in, so they were not put on board the same ship and returned if the police arrested them. When the police approached the island, my brother fled and took refuge in a green, densely wooded area.

My brother described his experience: “After the police left the area, I stayed there until the surrounding areas became quiet. Only then I noticed that a giant dog was standing near me. I stayed still; the dog stood there for 20 minutes and then went away. I was exhausted, hungry, and thirsty because I had not eaten anything at night. I was on the run when the police arrested me. They asked me where my friends were. I told them I was alone. They didn’t believe me and said you must have a companion, or maybe you are a smuggler. I was imprisoned for five days. Then, they released me and took me to Athens, the capital of Greece. After a month, I found my friends.”

My brother, Reza, was a very active person. He lived in Greece for two years and worked in agriculture. In the third year, he went to England with his three friends. On a rainy night, my brother and 15 other people, including 8 Pakistanis and 7 Afghans, tried to hide in a stream but the Pakistanis did not allow the Afghans to hide there. Angry at this, my brother threatened to beat some Pakistanis. He was athletic and strong, and when the Pakistanis saw this, they decided not to mess with him. My brother had taken his friends out of the stream and they had hidden somewhere else. Later, they moved to France and stayed there for six months. Their journey was very challenging. He said they had to cling underneath trailer trucks to hide and move from one city to another. They would use their clothes bags as pillows when they slept during the night. They had no idea where the trucks were headed: Africa, Europe, Australia, or even Pakistan. So they arrived at their destination, England. He lived in England for two years but was not accepted because he was an adult. So eventually he returned to Afghanistan. He worked hard and was always popular with people.

Reza got married in our hometown and then was nominated and elected as head of the community council. One of the public works he did for the people was constructing a road that connected our area with a neighbouring region. He also upgraded the elementary school into a high school and renovated its building. He was very good-tempered and treated people with care and respect.

One of my brothers is older than me. He graduated from twelfth grade in the same year. Reza told him to study any field he likes and not to worry about tuition. Taking part in the university entrance exam, my brother was accepted for the two-year electrical engineering course, but in the end, he didn’t enjoy it and said he wanted to work in national security instead. After two years of struggle, he was offered a job in national security and returned to Daikundi. When the incident happened on July 23, I was at the Institute. I kept calling my brother’s number, but he didn’t pick up. I called his friends, but they didn’t give a concrete answer. I left for Kote-Sangi. I then realized I should call the driver of the vehicle in which my brother rides. When I called him, he told me, “Reza Ebrahimi is with me, and I have just come out of Esteqlal hospital and want to go to Wazir Mohammad Akbar Khan hospital.”

I recall him calling me several times a day for the entire year I had been in Kabul. He asked me where I was, what I was doing, and whether I had attended classes. He was very kind. I felt disappointed because he would never have left my calls unanswered, so if he did not answer, he must be in a bad way. When I arrived at Wazir Muhammad Akbar Khan hospital, his condition was critical; one of his legs was broken. I approached his bed. As soon as he saw me, he grabbed my feet. I tried to stay calm and not to cry. I told him he would be fine. Then, we transferred him to the 400-bed hospital. After he regained consciousness, he started cracking jokes with a friend of his who was a policeman, who had also been injured.

Reza asked me how I did my exams. I said I had only one exam left. He wanted me to get an inquiry letter and finish the exam. Following that, he talked to my brother, who worked in national security. He assured Reza not to worry about home. He told me I should not lose patience and stay focused on my studies after he is taken to India for medical treatment. “I have asked our brother to send you money from Daikundi.” He was taken to India with other wounded people on Friday. I was thrilled that he would recover in India. I attended classes on Saturday and Sunday. On Monday, I spoke with him. He sounded sad compared to the first days. A friend of his was with me. They talked a lot and he seemed happier talking to his friend. At 8 p.m., I went to my room; my friends had prepared food. I had dinner and wanted to call my brother Reza. I turned my mobile data on. One of my brothers, who lives in Iran with his family, was online and sent me photos of his sons. He asked me how Reza was doing. I said, “Thank God, he will be fine.”

In the meantime, my brother’s friend Abbas sent me a message asking how I was doing and what updates I had. The guy texted me again and said, “How are you? What is going on at home?” I said I was fine and so was the family. The person who was with my brother, his friend, was called Abbas. I asked him if Reza was fine. He said, “He is fine. Pray for him, and God willing, he will be fine. Make a vow for him.” I said, “I do pray, and now I will pray some more.” Following that call, Abbas’s phone and internet were turned off. Ten minutes later, a person named Hashem called me and said, “Dadfar, can I tell you something?” I said yes, tell me. With a lump in his throat, he said it was God’s wish. God took Reza Ebrahimi from us. I was shocked and immediately asked him what had happened. Hashem said, “Reza had a heart attack, and the doctors could not save him.”

I hung up the phone and informed my elder brother in Iran. He cried a lot over the phone and told me he would leave for Afghanistan the next day. My other brother, who was on duty, said he would go to Daikandi tomorrow. My other brother, who lived in Herat, only knew about Reza’s injury. He was in Iran, too, and arrived in Kabul on Monday. Upon the arrival of Reza’s body from India, we transferred it to the morgue in the 400-bed hospital because the high temperature could have impacted the body. When everyone arrived in Kabul, we moved to Daikundi on Tuesday and laid Reza to rest. He departed this life and left us alone in grief.

On July 23, 2016, two suicide bombers denoted their explosives among the protesters at Dehmazang Square in Kabul, the capital city of Afghanistan. The protesters, who were primarily Hazaras, were part of the Enlightenment Movement. They were protesting against the diversion of the TUTAP mega power project which would cause the project to bypass Hazara-dominated areas. At least 84 protesters lost their lives and 260-400 others were injured. The Islamic State of Khorasan Province (ISKP), the regional branch of ISIS, took credit for the attack. However, ISKP later refuted their involvement in the attack.

The Enlightenment Movement, also known as Junbesh-e Roshnayie, was a grassroots civil disobedience movement started by Hazaras in Afghanistan in response to a change in the Fichtner GmbH & Co. KG proposed Energy Supply Improvement Investment Program, unofficially called TUTAP project plans. The change in the project plans would cause it to bypass Hazara regions. The move was seen as perpetuating long-standing anti-Hazara discrimination. Throughout 2016 and 2017, the Enlightenment Movement coordinated large-scale demonstrations against discrimination both domestically in Afghanistan and abroad.

My emotional state was very bad and I didn’t know what to do

Narrator: Ishaq (cousin)

Victim: Jawad Haidari

Date of the incident: 23 July 2016

Location of the incident: Dehmazang, Kabul City

Jawad was born in the province of Bamyan in 1992. During the period of Taliban rule, his father was hired as a farm worker in the Tah-ghar area, working only at night due to the security situation. If he worked on the farm during the day, the Taliban would kill him. One day Jawad’s father attempted to go plough his field early one morning, hoping the Taliban would not notice his presence. The Taliban saw him and took him to back his home, where they behead him. When the Taliban came, Jawad hid in a corner of the family house and his mother ran away. Four other neighbors who had worked with Jawad’s father came out of their homes, thinking that the Taliban had gone away. Unfortunately, all four were found and also beheaded.

My father and I worked as shepherds in an area called Dara-ye Nura (Nura Valley). Since the area was not secure, my father would go to the area for 20 days and farm only at night so the Taliban would not see him. I was little and fled to the mountains along with my family [after the Taliban came to our house]. We learned only three weeks later that my uncle had been killed by the Taliban. Jawad’s mother lived in my uncle’s house for 3 months until one of our relatives said: “She is a young woman. One of your brothers should marry her so that she is not without a guardian.” Then one of my cousins married her. Unfortunately, my cousin had a defective eye. He worked for a while until he earned enough money to send Jawad to school. Jawad went to school until eighth grade. At the time, conditions at school were not good, so Jawad was sent to Kabul and started working in the Now-Bahar Hotel in Kot-e Sangi. I recommended that he should work with me [as I already worked there].

After some time, in 2011, he joined the national army and worked for six months. His duty station was at the airport but he left his job due to insecurity. Later, we bought wheelbarrows and started working in Mandawi market. My wife and I got him engaged to a girl last year. A clergyman in Karte Sakhi officialized their marriage contract so Jawad could easily go to his father-in-law’s house. He had planned to hold the wedding ceremony in the fall of this year but his fiancé’s family had problems, and so he had to wait until their problems were resolved. Unfortunately, he was martyred in the summer. His family was not here - he lived with us. Only on Fridays would he go to his fiancé’s house. Due to the problems with the road, his mother came to Kabul only once, which was for his engagement party. Our economic situation was not good. In the run-up to Eid, we would try to save some money from work, and my wife and I would bring an Eid present for Jawad’s fiancé.

Jawad’s dream was to escape poverty and misery. Sometimes he would say with a smile, “Cousin, will there ever be a day when I have a wife, a life and children?” I would always respond the same way, saying, “Don’t lose hope and have faith in God’s grace and generosity.” Jawad was very honest, good-tempered, brave, and hard-working. We would participate in most of the Junbish (Movement) programs together. I had guests at my house on the day of the demonstration on July 23rd, but Jawad went to Dehmazang. My aunt had died a short while before, and some of our relatives had come to our house to pay their condolences. On the morning of the incident, Jawad went to Dehmazang along with some youths. I called him at 12 o’clock and told him to come back home because the weather was very hot and he would get sick, and he should come eat and drink water. I asked my wife to prepare more food because Jawad would also be coming home. I called him again and asked him again to come home, but he said that he was still in Dehmazang and that all the roads to the city were blocked off. I told him to come home through Guzargah. Our house is just behind Ibn-e Sina Hospital. He said he did not know the Guzargah route and that he would wait a few minutes for the demonstration to finish. I was worried and again called him to ask him where he was. He said he was waiting on the street, that people were going to eat and a few people had erected tents. We were waiting at home for Jawad before starting to eat. At around 2:30 p.m. the sound of an explosion was heard, and dust rose from the Dehmazang side. My house is near the top of the mountain, so the city landscape is vividly visible. I got out and started running towards Dehmazang anxiously, but when I neared the bridge, a soldier stopped me. I tried to pass toward the Pul-e Artal bridge when a second explosion happened. Gunfire was heard. The people around me were saying that there was fighting in Dehmazang. Yazdanparast, the representative of Chendawul, had put some injured people in his car. I asked his bodyguards what had happened. They replied that there had been an explosion in Dehmazang. However many times I called Jawad, he did not answer the phone.

When I arrived in Dehmazang Square, I saw a police vehicle picking up the injured. But Jawad was not among the injured in the police vehicle. I rushed to Ibn-e Sina Hospital but did not find him there either. I called his phone again and someone else picked up and said the owner of the phone was in Isteqlal Hospital. I called my friends and relatives and told them he had been injured. When I arrived at Isteqlal Hospital, I was very confused and in a very bad condition. I went to the female ward without realizing it.

My emotional state was so bad and I didn’t know where I was or what I was doing. There were three or four dead bodies on a bed and the hallways were full of the injured and the bodies of martyrs. Of the three dead bodies on one of the beds, one had green pants. I looked at the bodies more carefully and then I recognized Jawad. There was a doctor there. I was angry with him, and said that they were playing with the life of the injured, and did not care who was alive and who was dead. The doctor said that Jawad had died even before he arrived at the hospital. There were two holes in his shoulder, his hand was wounded, and there had been blood flowing from his mouth. The hospital didn’t give me the body that night, but moved it to Wazir Akbar Khan Hospital.

The following day, I received the body at 11 o’clock and took it to the mosque, and performed ghusl (full-body ablution) at 12 o’clock. I rented a car and took him back to Bamyan where we buried him. At that time, no one was in a good emotional state and we didn’t know about Tepa-ye Shuhada (Martyrs Hill). I didn’t have money, so I borrowed 10,000 Afghanis from a relative to pay for his shroud, funeral, and memorial service. We arrived in Bamyan close to sunset and because the weather was bad, the mullah of the area performed namaz-e janazah (Islamic funeral prayer). We buried him at night.

Jawad’s mother and my uncle insisted that we bury him in our own home area and next to his father’s grave. We still go to Jawad’s fiancé's house. Unfortunately, after Jawad’s martyrdom, she suffered from deep emotional problems. She fainted constantly though luckily with some treatment, her condition is improving. If the Junbesh [Enlightenment Movement] invites me to, I will attend their meetings. We follow our martyrs’ path. Jawad’s family now faces a myriad of problems. His mother is old and they have numerous financial problems. We only received support from the Junbesh and have not received any ikramiya (death benefits) from the government at all.

On July 23, 2016, two suicide bombers denoted their explosives among the protesters at Dehmazang Square in Kabul, the capital city of Afghanistan. The protesters, who were primarily Hazaras, were part of the Enlightenment Movement. They were protesting against the diversion of the TUTAP mega power project which would cause the project to bypass Hazara-dominated areas. At least 84 protesters lost their lives and 260-400 others were injured. The Islamic State of Khorasan Province (ISKP), the regional branch of ISIS, took credit for the attack. However, ISKP later refuted their involvement in the attack.

The Enlightenment Movement, also known as Junbesh-e Roshnayie, was a grassroots civil disobedience movement started by Hazaras in Afghanistan in response to a change in the Fichtner GmbH & Co. KG proposed Energy Supply Improvement Investment Program, unofficially called TUTAP project plans. The change in the project plans would cause it to bypass Hazara regions. The move was seen as perpetuating long-standing anti-Hazara discrimination. Throughout 2016 and 2017, the Enlightenment Movement coordinated large-scale demonstrations against discrimination both domestically in Afghanistan and abroad.

Now That He is Gone, My Sorrows Have Increased a Thousand Times

Narrator: Shirin Gul (aunt and godmother)

Victim: Khadim Hussain Hussaini

Date of the incident: 23 July 2016

Location of the incident: Dehmazang, Kabul City

Khadim Hossain was orphaned when he was six months old. Thenceforth, I assumed his guardianship. Years ago, Khadim’s father went out hunting with some other people and was buried by an avalanche. Only in autumn could they dig him out of the snow. His mother suffered from an anxiety induced mental breakdown triggered by her husband's death. Consequently, she also died. Since then, I had assumed guardianship of Khadim Hossain. I raised him until he was 20-years-old. He had just turned 21 this year.

Last year, his uncle [the narrator’s husband] was paralyzed due to high blood pressure. I went to all the hospitals in Kabul to find him a treatment and basically met every doctor. After we were disappointed with his treatment in Afghanistan, the doctors gave me a note to take him to Pakistan, where he could be treated. I borrowed money from my relatives and took him to Pakistan. Once Pakistani doctors examined him and conducted the initial treatment, they said he should be hospitalized for two months and would be fine after two months. He was hospitalized in Pakistan for almost 25 days. When calling home, Khadim Hussain would assure me that he, the house, and the children were all fine.

He said, “I am at work in the morning, return home in the evening, and all of us are together.” One evening, I called him, but his phone was off. I got worried and told his uncle that I had called Khadim Hossain, but his phone was off. His uncle told me, “It is okay. He is young; either his phone is dead, or he is at work and has turned it off, or maybe he has lost it.” I was still worried. I called my brother and asked him how he was. I told him I had heard there was a demonstration in Kabul. “Are you all well?” I asked. He said they were all fine. I asked him if he knew about Khadim Hossain and that his phone was switched off. He said, "Well, I don't know, sister." I asked him to call or find out why his phone was turned off. I explained that there are little children at home, it is not clear what has happened, and to let me know so that I could stop worrying. My brother said, “Okay. I will find out about him and let you know.” His own uncle was in the hospital.

During the day, I was taking care of my husband, and at night, I would stay at the house of my husband's cousin who lived in Pakistan with her family. That when, I saw on TV that smoke was rising from Dehmazang Square and numerous ambulances were carrying the wounded and dead. It was a terrible situation. Looking at that, I became apprehensive and said to myself, "God, what has happened?" From early evening, I continued calling Khadim until late at night, but he did not answer.

Early next morning, I called my brother and told him, “I tried calling Khadim Hossain's phone at night, but it was switched off. You told me you would find out about him and update me. You did not, so what happened?” He said, “Sister! Be patient. I will find out about him and call you.” Once again, I asked my brother, “Please go check the house, since there are only a few houses of our people there. There are one or two Hazara families, three Sayyid families, and the rest are all Pashtuns. Check on my children and see what has happened to them.” At around 11:00 or 12:00, my brother called back. When I picked up the phone, he said, "Sister, your son took part in the demonstration. We are looking for him but we cannot find him. It is up to you whether you come back or decide stay there." I went to talk to the head of the hospital. Although I didn't know their language, I managed to make them understand that there was a problem back at home. I said they had to dismiss my husband as we needed to return to Afghanistan. But they told me that I had to leave the patient there for two months and that I was not allowed to return to Afghanistan because the patient’s medication would not be sufficient. I went to my husband’s cousin's house and told him I had received a call from home, but the hospital won't dismiss his cousin. I asked him to go and talk to the hospital administrators to solve our problem.

He called my brother. My brother told him, “All I know is that he took part in the demonstration, but despite our endless searches after the incident, we have not been able to find him. My sister can either stay there with her husband or return.” We returned to the hospital, and my husband’s cousin pleaded with them until they allowed the patient to leave. We waited at the border crossing in Torkham for two days and then travelled to Kabul. When I arrived home, I asked my children where Khadim Hossain was and what had happened.

My eldest daughter, 13-years-old, said, “Mother! He came back from work in the evening and his employer called him to see if he had arrived home. Khadim Hossain said yes, he is at home. He woke up early in the morning and said that he was going to work. He went outside and came back.” Because he was working in a mosaic factory and his work clothes were very dusty, he had told my daughter, “Heat some water and wash my clothes, they are very dusty. I will not go to work today.”

He was having breakfast when somebody knocked on the door. Someone named Abbas, who was also later martyred in the demonstration, came to see him to ask him to go to the demonstration. Khadim asked for his clothes and got ready to participate in the rally. He said to my daughter, “Sister, if I am late, either go to your uncle’s house and tell him to come and stay with you at night, or call the lady who always visits us so that you are not alone before I arrive.” My daughter explained that they waited until evening but Khadim did not come home. “I went to my uncle’s house and said that Khadim Hossain had not come home yet. My uncle became angry with me and said, 'He will come home. There must either be a traffic jam, or he is just late from work.' I was still worried and went to the neighbours whose house is one or two buildings away, and told his wife that Khadim Hossain had not come home that night. We were all alone and, if possible, could she come and stay with us?" The neighbours knew that Abbas, the neighbour's son, had taken part in the demonstration too. Since Abbas had not returned, Khadim might not come back either.

At night, the neighbour lady stayed with my children until morning. In the morning, my brother went to our house and told my daughter to wake the children up and tidy up the house. He then went to look for Khadim Hossain. My daughter woke her siblings up and organized the house. After a while, a vehicle came to our alley, followed by a commotion. The body of Abbas, who took part in the demonstration alongside Khadim Hossain, had been found and brought to his home. Abbas's mother and wife were beating themselves, shocked by the sudden encounter with Abbas's body. My daughter explained, “I was looking at the crowd in the alley near Abbas's house when my uncle showed up and took us home, we hadn’t realized what had happened.”

When I arrived in Kabul, I met the community representative and asked the local people what had happened. They told me that Khadim Hussain and Abbas had been together, but they didn’t know if they had actually taken part in the demonstration or gone elsewhere. I called his employer who confirmed that Khadim had called to say he would not come to work that day as he planned to go to the demonstration. His employer had later tried to reach him but Khadim’s phone was turned off.

The next day, my brother and I searched the 400-bed Wazir Akbar Khan, the Aliabad, Esteqlal and Ibn-e Sina hospitals, and all the other hospitals in Kabul, but we could not find Khadim. Once I returned home, the community representative said I should consult with Motahari. When I met him, he assigned Jawhari and others to join me at the 400-bed Hospital. There was a burnt body there, but it could not be identified. There were several representatives with me. They asked me if I could recognize the body, but it was completely blackened. The only thing about the body that resembled Khadim Hossain was the height; it was not recognizable in any other respect. I told them that Khadim Hossain was heavy and fat, but this person was slim. Somebody, whom I thought was a doctor, said the body had become thin and black because it had been burned. Jawhari told them that there were pieces of the bodies that had not been identified so far. There were amputated hands, feet, heads, and other body parts. When we went there, there were just pieces of flesh. I told them that the only part of his body I would be able to recognize was his face; the rest of his body, including his hands, feet, flesh, and other parts, would be impossible for me to identify. We returned home.

When Khadim Hossain was still alive, life could go on somehow as normal. Sometimes it was good, and sometimes bad. But ever since Khadim Hossain sacrificed himself for the sake of more rights and justice, his uncle has been paralyzed, and the difficulties in my life have increased tenfold. My children have become like orphans with no caretaker because they are small and there is no one to look after them. Their faces are covered with dust. My husband waits for me to return home and give him a glass of water with a piece of bread. My children are small and have no clue. He cannot take care of his home and his children.

Most brothers and sisters who have lost their loved ones at least have the chance to visit their martyr's graves to calm their hearts. Where can we go? Should I go to Mosala or visit the Martyrs Hill, each of whom has a family and loved one who come to see them? They go through a single pain, whereas I suffer a thousand pains. In the evening, when someone knocks on our door, my heart trembles, and I tell my children to open the door. God is merciful, maybe it could be him, and we could see him again. When the phone rings, I quickly pick it up, hoping it is Khadim Hossain calling. I am stuck in aguish. I may find food for breakfast, but I might not get anything for dinner. And thus, I spend the night and day looking forward to seeing Khadim Hossain again. I am waiting for where God will lead us. Despite all the sorrows, I thank God that I have a healthy body and can work and take Halal food for my family, no matter how much or how little.

When Khadim Hossain was alive, I worked at home since he was working outside and providing for the household. He would help me move his uncle and take him to the doctor. If there was a fatiha and I couldn't attend, I could be confident that Khadim Hussain would attend in our place. He would also participate in other people's happy occasions, and so I felt reassured. Now that he is gone, my sorrows have increased a thousand times.

On July 23, 2016, two suicide bombers denoted their explosives among the protesters at Dehmazang Square in Kabul, the capital city of Afghanistan. The protesters, who were primarily Hazaras, were part of the Enlightenment Movement. They were protesting against the diversion of the TUTAP mega power project which would cause the project to bypass Hazara-dominated areas. At least 84 protesters lost their lives and 260-400 others were injured. The Islamic State of Khorasan Province (ISKP), the regional branch of ISIS, took credit for the attack. However, ISKP later refuted their involvement in the attack.

The Enlightenment Movement, also known as Junbesh-e Roshnayie, was a grassroots civil disobedience movement started by Hazaras in Afghanistan in response to a change in the Fichtner GmbH & Co. KG proposed Energy Supply Improvement Investment Program, unofficially called TUTAP project plans. The change in the project plans would cause it to bypass Hazara regions. The move was seen as perpetuating long-standing anti-Hazara discrimination. Throughout 2016 and 2017, the Enlightenment Movement coordinated large-scale demonstrations against discrimination both domestically in Afghanistan and abroad.

His Mother Lost Her Sanity Balance After the Incident

Narrator: Hussain Ali (father)

Victim: Kazim Hakimi

Date of the incident: 23 July 2016

Location of the incident: Dehmazang, Kabul City

My son was born in 1988, in the Varas District. He was five years old when we migrated to the Kerman region, a part of Panjaw District in Bamiyan Province. He was very interested in school and we enrolled him in a local school, which he attended up to grade 7. But due to the lack of facilities and shortage of teachers in his school, he started to lose interest.

Subsequently, he voluntarily went to Iran, where he learned the trade of plastering. At 18, he returned to Afghanistan and married the daughter of one of our relatives. They were married for ten years. Almost a year ago, my son came to Kabul from Panjaw and rented a house in western Kabul. He has four little daughters, but life was not kind to him and his family. On the 23rd of July, he participated in the demonstration and lost his life in a brutal attack by some ungodly people.

After the accident and his martyrdom, his mother lost her sanity, her mental balance. According to the doctors, she has developed a neurological disorder. His wife and four kids live a hard life in the same rented house. I have become old and am also going through financial hardship. He was 28-years-old when he was martyred. Losing a young child breaks a person's back. We have all been downhearted since then.

On July 23, 2016, two suicide bombers denoted their explosives among the protesters at Dehmazang Square in Kabul, the capital city of Afghanistan. The protesters, who were primarily Hazaras, were part of the Enlightenment Movement. They were protesting against the diversion of the TUTAP mega power project which would cause the project to bypass Hazara-dominated areas. At least 84 protesters lost their lives and 260-400 others were injured. The Islamic State of Khorasan Province (ISKP), the regional branch of ISIS, took credit for the attack. However, ISKP later refuted their involvement in the attack.

The Enlightenment Movement, also known as Junbesh-e Roshnayie, was a grassroots civil disobedience movement started by Hazaras in Afghanistan in response to a change in the Fichtner GmbH & Co. KG proposed Energy Supply Improvement Investment Program, unofficially called TUTAP project plans. The change in the project plans would cause it to bypass Hazara regions. The move was seen as perpetuating long-standing anti-Hazara discrimination. Throughout 2016 and 2017, the Enlightenment Movement coordinated large-scale demonstrations against discrimination both domestically in Afghanistan and abroad.

His Clothes and Face Were Covered in Blood

Narrator: Zaher (uncle)

Victim: Reza Akbari

Date of the incident: 23 July 2016

Location of the incident: Dehmazang, Kabul City

I am Zaher, uncle of the martyred Reza. I was working in Iran and learned through the television that a suicide bomber had attacked protestors in Dehmazang.

My nephew Reza lived with his grandfather. We live separated from my father. When I watched the news, I became agitated. I quickly called my father and asked if anyone from our family, relatives, or friends had participated in the demonstration. My father said everyone was at home except Reza, who had come home but had gone out again around noon to join the demonstrators. “I tried to prevent him from going, but he forcefully left the house and would not listen to me." He added that before leaving the house, he told him, “I participated in the previous demonstration, and nothing happened; this time, too, God willing, nothing will happen.”

About eight months ago, my father assigned Reza to be an apprentice in a car repair shop so that he could stand on his own feet and not be dependent on anyone, learn a trade and provide for his expenses and not be a simple laborer like me. Reza had lost his father in a traffic accident at the age of 8 and had suffered a lot. When my father said that, I got even more worried, hung up the phone, and called my friends and acquaintances. I was apprehensive because Reza was the eldest son of his family. I did not get news until the following day. Finally, on Sunday, my cousin called me at 10:00 am and said, "We found someone in the 400-bed hospital, who looks a lot like Reza, but I don't recognise him. If you have a picture of Reza, send it to me so I can identify him.” I immediately shared his photo. Those were terrible moments. At 11 am, he called me again and said that the body was Reza’s and that he had been killed.

That same day, I went to my employer, got some money, left my following payments unsettled, and immediately left for Afghanistan. About eight months earlier, my brother and I had travelled to Iran for work. None of us have good living conditions. Since Reza's martyrdom, my father and his family's living conditions have deteriorated too. I am now unemployed and not in a good financial situation.

Reza had been born in the province of Bamyan Province, Varas District, Shui Qol Village by Payeen Aab. He had yet to start experiencing the taste of life when troubles afflicted him and his family. Reza lost his father in a car accident and was orphaned at the age of 8. At the time of the accident, his sister was two-years-old and his brother was still in his mother's womb. Following that incident, they lived with their grandfather. Reza studied in his village up to grade 7. He moved to Kabul in 2015, worked as a hawker for a while, and then became an apprentice at an automobile repair shop and learned the job well. Some time ago, he told me, “Uncle! If possible, please tell my grandfather to get me a shop so that I can work independently.” Since I noticed his hard work, I decided to get him a shop in autumn so his business would improve.

On the day of the demonstration, his workplace was closed and he had not gone to work. My father explained to me, “No matter how much I told Reza that he shouldn't participate in the demonstration, he wouldn’t listen to me and went to Dehmazang. When I called Reza, his phone was switched off, and the roads were closed. I kept waiting for him until the evening. After we heard about the suicide bombing, I went out with three other people to look for Reza; we searched everywhere until midnight, but we could not locate him. By early morning, after the prayer, we went out again to look for Reza. We finally found Reza at 10:00 am in the 400-Bed Hospital. He was unidentifiable; his clothes and face were covered in blood. Reza came home but with his eyes shut. He has grieved me, his mother, his little brother, and his sister.” My father now lives with my other brother's family. My brother's financial situation is terrible, and my parents are old. My father is 70.

On the 40th day after the death of the martyrs of the Light Movement, which included Reza, my father was seriously sick for almost a week. He was very distressed by Reza's death and would frequently pass out. I called Mr. Behzad to explain that our situation was not good, and he called Motahari, but my father was given no help. Now, my brother has to provide for nine people. I have been unemployed since I returned from Iran, and I cannot help them. I cannot even care for my own family properly. Losing Reza was painful for all of us. My father continues to shed tears and talk about him, may his memory be a blessing. I have asked Reza's heirs to follow in his footsteps so that his blood was not spilled in vain.

On July 23, 2016, two suicide bombers denoted their explosives among the protesters at Deh Mazang Square in Kabul, the capital city of Afghanistan. The protesters, who were primarily Hazaras, were part of the Enlightenment Movement and were protesting against the decision that diverted the TUTAP mega power project by bypassing the Hazara-dominated areas. According to multiple sources, nearly 260- 400 people were injured, and at least 97 protesters lost their lives. The Islamic State of Khorasan Province (ISKP), the regional branch of ISIS, took credit for the incident. However, the same organization later refuted their involvement in the incident. The Enlightenment Movement, also known as Junbesh-e Roshnayi-e, was a grassroots civil disobedience movement started by Hazaras in Afghanistan in response to a change in the Fichtner GmbH & Co. KG proposed Energy Supply Improvement Investment Program, unofficially called TUTAP project plans diverted through bypassing Hazara region. The move was seen as perpetuating long-standing anti-Hazara discrimination. Throughout 2016 and 2017, the group coordinated large-scale demonstrations against discrimination both domestically in Afghanistan and abroad.

My Son Was Completely Burned and Killed in The First Explosion

Narrator: Khadim Ali (father)

Victim: Bostan Ali Haidari

Date of the incident: 23 July 2016

Location of the incident: Dehmazang, Kabul City

Martyr Bostan was born in Sorkh Parsa district of Parwan province. He was martyred at the age of 23. He finished school in Sorkh Parsa, graduating from Shahid Mortaza High School. He was a decent, friendly and sociable boy. It has been almost seven years since we moved to Kabul. We live in Barchi, Golai Mahtab Qala. Because there were no work opportunities in Parwan Province, he engaged in carpentry after graduating from school. Since the work did not turn out well, we then moved to Kabul. He was still single. Whenever I suggested that it was good to put his life in order and select a spouse, he said he was not ready to get married. He had a calm personality but had good relations with everyone.

His closest friends were martyr Mehr Ali and martyr Rahim, who were also martyred in the same incident. Before martyrdom, they worked in a market; our families used to visit each other. In addition to carpentry, he used to wrestle, and was very interested in athletics. He had been engaged in wrestling for several years. For a month prior to his death, he had participated in the meetings of the Movement. He always went to Mosala. The night before the incident, he cried when he returned home. I asked him why he was sad and crying. He said, “Our activities and efforts failed.” That night, my son and the martyr Mehr Ali went door-to-door to campaign for the July 23rd protest.

They distributed leaflets so people would go to Dehmazang on Saturday and stand up for their rights. The night before, he told us he would participate in the next day’s demonstration. I jokingly said he would do better not to participate, but he firmly stated that he had to be there.

On the day of the incident, he left the house early in the morning, and I followed him at 7 o'clock. He was near Mosala with a small number of people, 15 or 20. Dawood Naji was also there. Noticing me, he said, "Bostan’s dad, you are an elderly man. Please gather a few people to build a larger crowd.” I was holding a flag. By the time we arrived in Pol-e-Sokhta, more people had joined us. We all walked together to Dehmazang. Around noon prayer time, some people and I went to pray at Mohseni mosque, and it was then that the suicide attack happened. I was praying when an intense explosion rocked the seminary building. When I called him, Bostan’s phone was switched off. I believed something terrible must have happened.

One of his sisters lives in Barchi. She called me and said that Bostan was not answering her phone calls. When I returned home at night, I hid it from my family. I told them some protestors were arrested and taken away by security personnel. When I returned to Dehmazang, all the martyrs and wounded were picked up. My son was burned entirely and martyred in the first explosion.

There were a lot of wounded and martyrs. First we went to Esteqlal Hospital, but he was not there. We searched all the hospitals throughout the night but still did not find him. The next day, we went to Sardar Mohammad Dawood Khan Hospital. Two of his friends were there. They knew he was martyred, but they did not tell me anything. They were handing over the martyrs; two boys went in and said my son was there. I received his body at 9 o'clock. The government provided an ambulance. Many of our relatives were there, and with their help we took his body to the mosque. When we brought the martyr's body to the mosque, we showed it to his mother and sisters. I will follow the path and goal of the martyrs until the last drop of my blood. We will participate every time there is a demonstration. His brothers, too, believe that if we remain silent, the martyr’s blood will have been spilled in vain.

Unfortunately, I lost another son in the early days of Karzai's rule. It happened because my son had bought a Mazda vehicle from Herat. On his way to Kabul, robbers blocked his way in Helmand and killed him. After several days of searching, we found his body in a ruined building. Bostan, who was martyred, was my second son. My first son was married, and a year had passed since his wedding. Unfortunately, these days our leaders do not act to support their people; they have remained silent. They did not work on the Martyrs' Hill or pave it. The leaders of the Movement made these promises to the families of the martyrs. They have not done anything so far. Our only request to the Independent Human Rights Commission and the United Nations is to investigate this crime and not to ignore it. We have no expectations of the government because it placed suicide bombers among the demonstrators and killed our youth in order to scare our people and stop the protests. I went to take a lunch break and perform prayer, but did not tell him to take a break as well. Later, two doctors from our hometown said that my son and Mehr Ali had lost their lives in the blast wave, and their bodies were completely burned. He was wearing a camouflage pattern jacket. Only a tiny part was left unburnt. His face and stomach were severely burned.

On July 23, 2016, two suicide bombers denoted their explosives among the protesters at Dehmazang Square in Kabul, the capital city of Afghanistan. The protesters, who were primarily Hazaras, were part of the Enlightenment Movement. They were protesting against the diversion of the TUTAP mega power project which would cause the project to bypass Hazara-dominated areas. At least 84 protesters lost their lives and 260-400 others were injured. The Islamic State of Khorasan Province (ISKP), the regional branch of ISIS, took credit for the attack. However, ISKP later refuted their involvement in the attack.

The Enlightenment Movement, also known as Junbesh-e Roshnayie, was a grassroots civil disobedience movement started by Hazaras in Afghanistan in response to a change in the Fichtner GmbH & Co. KG proposed Energy Supply Improvement Investment Program, unofficially called TUTAP project plans. The change in the project plans would cause it to bypass Hazara regions. The move was seen as perpetuating long-standing anti-Hazara discrimination. Throughout 2016 and 2017, the Enlightenment Movement coordinated large-scale demonstrations against discrimination both domestically in Afghanistan and abroad.

Human Flesh Was Everywhere

Narrator: Laila Kazemi (mother)

Victim: Mohammad Jan Kazemi

Date of the incident: 23 July 2016

Location of the incident: Dehmazang, Kabul City

My son was 14-years-old. I raised him in poverty. In fact, he had just started working so we were all very happy, especially me and his father. His father used to say, “It's good that I have a big son and like a mountain, he has my back.” When his father would go to a party at night and would not return home or go on a trip, he was confident and would say, "Thankfully, my son has grown up and is there with his four sisters and his mother." For a while we lived in Taimani out of necessity. Poverty forced us to live in places where people consider my son alien. We were there for one year, and my son attended the first grade in one of the schools in Taimani. Then we moved to Guzargah, and I enrolled my son in the Abdul Ali Mostaghni school. His sisters attended the same school as it is for both girls and boys. One day in second grade, my son was walking to school alone and was brutally beaten on the street. Some people dragged him into an alleyway and beat him with an electrical cable. He was not someone who would usually complain. When he came home, he simply said to me, "Mother, I was beaten with electrical wires.” They had attacked him for being a Hazara.

I will never forget the moment he came home with bruises on his face and body, and refused to say who had hit him. After that incident, I transferred him to a different school. I enrolled him in a school near Guzargah where he studied up to the sixth grade. He tried very hard not to be a burden. I always said to myself, “Leila, look at how the difficulties of the world have affected a 14-year-old child!” When he was with us at home, he would empathise and say, “I must work to help my father. How long does he have to work? He gets work one day and has no work the next.”

To be honest, last year, Mohammad Jan had started to burn incense to earn money. He made holes in a can of paste and put esfand seeds in it. It was winter and he said he wanted to earn money by burning incense so he could get his younger sister a pen and notebook. He told us not to worry. I always told him he shouldn't do that as someone might not like incense smoke. I was afraid, God forbid, that people would beat him up again. He told me, “No, mother, I can get my sisters a notebook and pen with the ten Afghani I earn from the incense.” He used to get 20 or 30 Afghanis working and would put it in a piggy bank he had prepared. He kept the piggy bank until the new year. On New Year, when he broke it, he had saved almost two or three hundred Afghanis.

He used the money to buy a pen, a pack of notebooks, and school supplies for his sisters. The only thing he could not buy them was a bag. He reassured them that it was okay, they should not worry, he was going to keep going to school and working in incense smudging [spiritually purifying with incense smoke].

By spring, I would not allow him to continue with incense smudging any more. I told him, “My son, don't go to work. Go to school. You should study.” Just this year, when school started up again, he found a job in a tailoring shop. He came home and said that he found a job. He said he would be a tailor’s apprentice and that his salary would be 100 Afghanis a week. I was very happy and said it was better than being on the streets all day. It was good because it was fun for him and he could spend some of the money he earned on himself. With the money he had saved, he bought pens and notebooks for his little sister, whom he loved very much. He used the money he had earned to buy a birthday cake from Pole-Sorkh for his sister. With the help of his sister, he found a small table, spread a woven tablecloth on it, and celebrated his sister's birthday. Only one video of him is left on the mobile phone, in which he shouts he wants to eat the decorative flower of the cake. He repeats that, laughs, and waves. That beautiful day passed and spring arrived.

At at a young age and with very little money, he had fulfilled his sister's wish and bought her a pen and notebook. He would go to school at 6 am and would return at 10. After that, he would go to the agricultural fields. One day he came home and said, ”Mother, I have found a new job”. I asked what job. He said, “My chief is called Kaka Zalmai. I go to his lands and pick leeks. He gives it to me and wants me to take it to the back alleys to sell it and we will halve the money.” His income level varied. Sometimes he would earn ten or twenty or even fifty Afghanis. With his money, he would buy burgers or boiled eggs and bring them home and eat them together with his little sister. Ramadan passed like this. It must have been my negligence that I let him go. Then I told him not to go to the fields anymore, saying “You are still very young and not old enough to take responsibility for the household.” He was still trying to earn that little extra money. He would always do his work on time and was never lazy. He tried hard to earn even a small income to help his father, and did not stay idly at home. I did not have my dream come true. I have cursed this unjust world that has influenced a child in such a way that he felt he must work and thought about ways to earn some halal [legal] money. I always told him, “My son, pursue your studies so that you can achieve your dream.” He always said, "Mother, I am studying, then I want to join the National Army." I also encouraged him by saying that serving in the Army was good and it was an honorable decision that in the future he wanted to keep people safe and secure.

He had a pair of pants with camouflage patterns. He liked them very much, and would always wear them, and took good care of them. I still have many memories of him in my mind and heart. He was very fond of football. On the day before he was martyred, he slept from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm. When his sisters came home from school at 1 o'clock, I called him, “Mohammad Jan, wake up my son, your sisters are home”. On that day, he asked one of his sisters to cook rice for him, as he only wanted to eat rice. His sister cooked the rice, and I am happy my son did not leave home hungry or thirsty. That day, he ate two plates of rice and drank two glasses of water. Going out of the house, he had a green handkerchief around his neck. I did not see him but his sisters said he smiled when he left the house. Before he left the house, I had said to him, "Mohammed Jan, where are you going? The situation today is not good, and God forbid there could be a suicide attack.” I even locked the gate and put the key out of reach, fearing he might go outside to play football. He wanted to get out through the roof-top. Our roof is connected to the roof of the neighbor's house, and Mohammad Jan wanted to get out through their bathroom. The girls told me, “Mother, Mohammad Jan has put up the ladder and wants to leave the house through the roof.” That day, I was very sick and my blood pressure was high. That's why I was sleeping. I work as a janitor at the local mosque. Mohammad Jan took the key from where I had put it. I noticed him and said, “Where are you going, my son?” He said, “Mother, please let me go play football with my friends today.” I said “My son, your friends are not there today.” But he said, “If my friends are there, I will go and play football with them.” He even told me the names of his friends and said, “If they don't go to play football, we will just gather in the alleyway and talk together for a while.”

We live near a grassy field, and that’s where he went. Once there, he did not find his friends. Someone told him, “The Hazaras are demonstrating in Dehmazang. Aren't you a Hazara? Why are you walking around here?” He was a very daring boy, and on the suggestion of this person, he did go to Dehmazang. The moment he arrived there, the explosion happened. I felt like the glass of the room broke over my head. I quickly got up and ordered my daughters to go and see in the alley to find out where the boy was. The poor girls were afraid and checked the alley, but Mohammad Jan was not there. I put on my clothes and went to Dehmazang in a pair of flip-flops. No matter how much I looked for Mohammad Jan, I couldn't find him. It was horrible; human flesh was everywhere. I saw everything except the hands and feet. At that time, I could not understand anything because of fear, sorrow, and shock. I was just running here and there; I did not even notice a camera next to me. Later, my daughters said they had seen me on TV, running around like a crazy person who had lost her mind.

As I was searching desperately, I thought about the pieces of cloth thrown over the dead bodies. The tents of the demonstrators were lying on the street. I couldn't believe that these were pieces of human flesh, covered by a simple piece of cloth. I didn't even comprehend whether these were stones or lumps of flesh. When I passed by them, I wasn't in a normal state at all. I didn't know whether I was on the ground or in the sky. I was just running here and there, completely distraught. As I searched for my son, I started at the Esteqlal Hospital. I searched all the hospitals around Dehmazang, but I couldn’t find Mohammad Jan. I finally found him at the Wazir Mohammad Akbar Khan Hospital at 11:00 PM.

Martyrdom must have been his fate. I always thank God for trusting me with the gift of a son, and I gave the gift back to him. I say to my God that he made the son of a mosque janitor meet martyrdom. I am sure he has not forgotten us. As the mother of martyr Mehr Ali says, I thank God that my son was not killed on a bad path, God forbid, for theft or adultery. He was the son of a mosque janitor and a labourer. My son had not even reached the age of prayer and had never sinned. God accepted this gift from me. But I will never forget that day and night when I had only one thousand Afghanis. I took 500 and his father took another 500. I was tormented by the idea of burying my son in such poverty and neediness in front of other people. So I borrowed seven thousand Afghanis from someone to prepare my son's shroud and coffin. I went to someone and pleaded, “For the sake of God, give me a loan to bury my son. I will pay your loan back as soon as possible.” May God bless him, he gave me the money and I used it for my son’s burial.

I will never forget the ill treatment by the staff of Wazir Muhammad Akbar Khan Hospital during my visit there. As I went there to identify my son's body, the person in charge of the morgue was opening and closing the mortuary cabinets so angrily that I lost my strength. I was overwhelmed with sorrow and I asked him to stop that behavior. I told him, “Those are the pieces of bodies of the martyrs, why are you acting like that? They, too, are the children of Muslims. So, open and close the cabinets slowly and with respect. Imagine yourself as the parents and family member of one of these martyrs. Is it right that you are behaving like this?” He didn't say anything. I found my dear Mohammad there. I brought him home alone with great sadness and with the help of his father, we bathed him. No matter how much I washed his head, the blood would not go away. His head was so badly hurt. With tears, sighs, moans, and sadness, I covered his head with plastic to prevent blood from spilling. Then I put cotton on it to reduce the flow of blood. We buried him alone and in loneliness. Our government is responsible for this great crime.

Khalili and Mohaqeq, who shamelessly encouraged the people and the youth [to participate in this protest], are the main perpetrators of this crime. They traded the lives of our innocent and educated youth and should be punished for their conduct. They must know that the curse of all of us is upon them. Now, everyday when it is the end of the school day for Muhammad Jan, the only thing I can do out of sadness is to pray for him. Even my little daughter sometimes tells me how much Muhammad is missed everywhere, at eating time, at the table. My tears are flowing, but I talk of my son as a martyr and as eternal, so that my husband does not feel too sad and to boost his spirits. Physically, my son is no longer with us, but his memory will last forever and he sees us. We must pray for him to rest in peace.

But the one thing that always bothers me is that I had dreamed of buying Mohammad Jan new clothes, which would have made him happy. This dream of mine is shattered now, with Mohammad Jan gone. I will never forget that Mohammad Jan never once tried on new clothes. He always helped and supported us as if he were an adult. He was concerned about his family's difficult financial situation. He worked so that his little sister was able to study and has a pen and notebook for school.

On July 23, 2016, two suicide bombers denoted their explosives among the protesters at Dehmazang Square in Kabul, the capital city of Afghanistan. The protesters, who were primarily Hazaras, were part of the Enlightenment Movement. They were protesting against the diversion of the TUTAP mega power project which would cause the project to bypass Hazara-dominated areas. At least 84 protesters lost their lives and 260-400 others were injured. The Islamic State of Khorasan Province (ISKP), the regional branch of ISIS, took credit for the attack. However, ISKP later refuted their involvement in the attack.

The Enlightenment Movement, also known as Junbesh-e Roshnayie, was a grassroots civil disobedience movement started by Hazaras in Afghanistan in response to a change in the Fichtner GmbH & Co. KG proposed Energy Supply Improvement Investment Program, unofficially called TUTAP project plans. The change in the project plans would cause it to bypass Hazara regions. The move was seen as perpetuating long-standing anti-Hazara discrimination. Throughout 2016 and 2017, the Enlightenment Movement coordinated large-scale demonstrations against discrimination both domestically in Afghanistan and abroad.

There Were 18 Bullet Wounds on His Body

Narrator: Parimah (mother)

Victim: Qurban Ali Ahmadi

Date of the incident: 23 July 2016

Location of the incident: Dehmazang, Kabul City

I am the mother of the martyr Qurban Ali. He was a hard-working, decent boy who had laboring jobs. He was almost seven when I first sent him to school. After a while, he said, “Mom, I can't continue going to school because I am the son of a poor family, and I have to provide for our living expenses so our life will get a little better.” One day, he didn't come home on time. I looked everywhere but I couldn't find him.

Back then, we lived in Chindawol. I suddenly saw him sweeping in front of a shop near the Behzad cinema. I went to him and asked him what he was doing there. He said, “I have become an apprentice here.” He worked at the same shop for nine years. The shop owner was from Sheikh Ali. He was a charming and kind person. For almost nine years, he did metalwork in his shop. He had mastered the job, was working in different places, and kept telling me that I should get him a shop so that he could start his own business. But I told him he couldn't run the business alone because the rent on the property was high, we could not afford the payment, and he could lose money. So he worked with his elder brother. It had taken us a lot of effort to arrange my eldest son’s marriage. Life used to be good at that time, to some extent. Then, after being married two years, my eldest son's wife died. A year later, my husband passed away. After that, the problems followed one after the other.

As my eldest son, Qurban Ali, grew older, he became quite successful in his profession. He used to make and sell doors and rails. As a result of all his hard work, our living conditions improved. One day, I told him, “Only God knows how long I will live. So let me get you married!” I continued and asked him, “How long do you think you can live in your brother's house? It may not work out for much longer." He didn't say anything. So I decided to mortgage my land in my hometown, cashed in my savings, and borrowed two hundred thousand Afghanis from the bank. With the total amount, I managed to get him married. For a year, we lived with Qurban Ali. Then I made my sons go and live separately. I distributed the debt between them. One of my sons got a house in Chindawol, and the other lived in a different place. I was living with Qurban Ali. He worked and provided for household expenses and continued paying his debt. He always said, “I wish to pay off my debts and then send my mother to Karbala [pilgrimage] because she has worked hard for me since I was a child. Later I will rent a house so that we can all live comfortably [together].” But now, how sad it is that he has gone before his own mother. He has left me alone. I am grateful to have two more sons, but no one can fill the void he left behind.

On the day of the incident, I wanted to go to my other son Mohammad Ali's house. I told Qurban Ali to go to work, but he said he wanted to go and join the demonstration. I told him, “It is none of your business; go to work.” He told me, “I participated in the first demonstration. Last time, they placed containers on our way. I climbed up on top of one of the containers and took photos of people taking part in the demonstration.” I said, “Have you gone nuts? Why did you climb up on top of a container? How is all this even your business?” No matter how much I insisted, he would not agree. I asked him to call me and update me as soon as he got there. As I left for Barchi, I noticed the road was closed. I turned around and went to Mohammad Ali's house via another road, Chehl Soton Road. There is a mosque near Mohammad Ali's house, where I performed prayer before having lunch.

Mohammad Ali’s wife was cracking almonds, and I helped her by separating out the kernel of the almonds from the cracked shells. We forgot all about the demonstration. Suddenly I remembered that Qurban Ali was supposed to be taking part in the rally, so I picked up the phone and called him. His coworker, a Sunni man, had named him Hasib. I called and asked him, “Where are you, Hasib, my love?” He said, "I am in Dehmazang, don't worry!” and I continued working. I never imagined a suicide bomber would get into the demonstration and that my son would be martyred. In fact, I even asked my eldest son why he was not in the demonstration. He told me, “Mom, the roads are closed, so that's why I am staying home.”

I must have gone insane that day! One of my sons was killed, he was martyred, and there I am encouraging the other to go to the same demonstration! The landlord's son told my other son that there had been an explosion in Dehmezang. For a moment, I felt as if I had fallen to the ground from high in the sky. It was like my heart was being squeezed. I kept calling Qurban, but he did not pick up his phone. I told my eldest son that Qurban was in Dehmezang, and called him again, but again he did not answer the call. My eldest son said: "Mother, you worry too much. A suicide attack has happened in Dehmezang. He must be busy helping the wounded and martyrs because many people have died. Qurban Ali will be fine."

When Mohammad Ali and I called again, neither of us received an answer. I was losing my senses, I was so worried. I told Mohammad Ali that I had to go to Dehmazang myself. I left the house and went to Pol-e Khoshk. When I got there, one of my relatives saw me and asked me where I was going. I explained that Hasib had joined in the demonstration and that after the explosion, he wasn’t answering our calls. My relative told me, “Do not worry. Go back home and I’ll go get him.” He took my phone. I don’t know why, maybe he knew that Hasib had been killed. I came out of the house several times between three and six o'clock. I was standing at Pol-e Khoshk bus station and intended to go to the mosque and pray. Up to that moment, I did not remember that I had to perform prayer. I was just wandering around full of anxiety. A mother would prefer to be buried herself than to see her young child die before her.

At that exact moment, I saw another relative, named Ismail, passing by. I ran after him but could not catch up with him. He went into mosque and I entered the mosque but could not see anyone inside. I came out and noticed three relatives approaching me. One of them, named Sarwar, was not feeling well. I asked what had happened to him. He said he had been slightly injured. I asked him if he knew where Hasib was. He said he was coming with Muhammad Ali.

Women have no other resort. That's why I started crying. I was slapping myself and crying. They took me home. When I opened the gate of the house, I saw my niece clapping hands and saying, “What are we going to say to Hasib's mother?” As soon as I heard her saying that, I broke down, slapping my face and pulling my hair, and that’s when I noticed Qurban Ali’s dead body. I was unable to stand. They took him to the mosque and bathed him. Blood was flowing from the stream in front of the mosque.

My other son sat next to me and said, “Mom, please don't cry, calm down.” Eighteen bullet wounds could be seen on Qurban Ali's body. The bone on one side of his head was missing. His hair was stuck to one side of his head, and his leg was broken. It was 10 p.m., and the blood continued flowing from Qurban Ali's body. With all the shops closed, there was no cloth to make a burial shroud. There wasn't even plastic to stop the bleeding. Since the bleeding did not stop, they brought lime from outside and put it on the wounds, but no matter how much lime they put on the wound, the bleeding would not stop. As an ultimate solution to stop bleeding, they mixed cotton with lime and placed it on the wounds, and the wounds were then wrapped in a plastic sheet.

There was no cloth to make a shroud. May God bless my cousin; he brought a shroud. It was 11 pm, and the relatives who had gathered in our house said that it was not possible to bury the body at this time; they would take the body home for that night and bury him the next day. When we wanted to take my son's body home, the landlord would not allow us to take the martyr’s body into the house. So we had to bury him at 11 p.m. that same night.

We returned home at 2 am. I had nothing at home to feed people with. My son was a decent and virtuous man. May God never make any mother grieve for her young child and, for the sake of Imam Hossein, never let any family be dishonored.

Now that he is dead, his children are left without a guardian and his wife has left for her father's house. She was my niece, and her parents took her back to their hometown. The young daughter of my son is now living with me. I am sixty years old, and I take care of his daughter.

I am facing many problems, and I cannot bear the burden alone. I pray for Afghanistan to become peaceful so that I can earn a legitimate income and raise my granddaughter. I raised my son in poverty, but unfortunately he left me alone in my old age and rested in peace himself. One of my sons was killed at 18 during the war under Baba Mazari’s command. I have suffered a lot.

People’s young sons and daughters were martyred. Dehmazang had become a battle-zone in Karbala. It must have been God's will for my other child to be martyred. Once again, God put me to a tough test. I pray to live long enough to witness little Fatima grow up. She is one and a half years old now. I am apprehensive and believe that if I die, Fatima will be helpless. She will have no one to take care of her. The unknown fate of Fatima is as sad as all the sorrows of my life put together, and so is the grief of losing my son. I am just forever grateful to be alive so I can care for this innocent child. Wherever I go, she comes with me and starts crying when she is away from me.

I pray to God to have mercy on us for the sake of this innocent child. Amen.

On July 23, 2016, two suicide bombers denoted their explosives among the protesters at Dehmazang Square in Kabul, the capital city of Afghanistan. The protesters, who were primarily Hazaras, were part of the Enlightenment Movement. They were protesting against the diversion of the TUTAP mega power project which would cause the project to bypass Hazara-dominated areas. At least 84 protesters lost their lives and 260-400 others were injured. The Islamic State of Khorasan Province (ISKP), the regional branch of ISIS, took credit for the attack. However, ISKP later refuted their involvement in the attack.

The Enlightenment Movement, also known as Junbesh-e Roshnayie, was a grassroots civil disobedience movement started by Hazaras in Afghanistan in response to a change in the Fichtner GmbH & Co. KG proposed Energy Supply Improvement Investment Program, unofficially called TUTAP project plans. The change in the project plans would cause it to bypass Hazara regions. The move was seen as perpetuating long-standing anti-Hazara discrimination. Throughout 2016 and 2017, the Enlightenment Movement coordinated large-scale demonstrations against discrimination both domestically in Afghanistan and abroad.

His Goal Was to Raise His Voice for Justice and Peace

Narrator: Mahdi (grandson of uncle)

Victim: Enayatullah Asil Tahmasi

Date of the incident: 23 July 2016

Location of the incident: Dehmazang, Kabul City

I am the grandson of martyr Enayatullah Asil's uncle. His immediate family lives in Ghazni. Because they could not participate in the Memory Box program, I consider it my duty to participate. Enayatullah was born in 1997. He completed his secondary education at Kariz Patu school, in Jaghori District of Ghazni Province. When he passed the university entrance exam, he got a good mark and was admitted to the Faculty of Journalism. He was only in his first semester when death took away his dreams. He was a very active and sociable person. He had won many awards during his school time. He was going to send me his biography, but unfortunately, he was martyred and his death made us all sad. He always believed that one should work hard and fight for their rights. His only intention in participating in this peaceful demonstration was to raise his voice for justice and peace. So many people like him sacrificed their lives for this cause. We follow in their footsteps so that their blood is not spilled in vain.

Enayatullah's life was full of ups and downs. He was not yet born when his father went to Iran and then Europe. He stayed there for ten years, but could not get citizenship, so he returned to Afghanistan. Then his father moved to Europe again, and it was when he was in Europe that his father heard of Enayatullah’s success. He was very proud. When he heard about his son's martyrdom, he couldn't bear it and returned to Afghanistan. He suffered a lot; Enayatullah was his father's only hope. Nothing could console him or heal his pain. Thanks to the Afghanistan Human Rights and Democracy Organization for providing this opportunity to share our painful stories with others. We must remember to never give up and follow in the steps of the righteous martyrs.

On July 23, 2016, two suicide bombers denoted their explosives among the protesters at Dehmazang Square in Kabul, the capital city of Afghanistan. The protesters, who were primarily Hazaras, were part of the Enlightenment Movement. They were protesting against the diversion of the TUTAP mega power project which would cause the project to bypass Hazara-dominated areas. At least 84 protesters lost their lives and 260-400 others were injured. The Islamic State of Khorasan Province (ISKP), the regional branch of ISIS, took credit for the attack. However, ISKP later refuted their involvement in the attack.

The Enlightenment Movement, also known as Junbesh-e Roshnayie, was a grassroots civil disobedience movement started by Hazaras in Afghanistan in response to a change in the Fichtner GmbH & Co. KG proposed Energy Supply Improvement Investment Program, unofficially called TUTAP project plans. The change in the project plans would cause it to bypass Hazara regions. The move was seen as perpetuating long-standing anti-Hazara discrimination. Throughout 2016 and 2017, the Enlightenment Movement coordinated large-scale demonstrations against discrimination both domestically in Afghanistan and abroad.

He Became a Victim of The Injustice of Our Corrupt Government

Narrator: Salman Ali Haidari (father)

Victim: Javid Haidari

Date of the incident: 23 July 2016

Location of the incident: Dehmazang, Kabul City

My child was born in the village of Alghu-e Haidar in Jaghori District in Ghazni Province. Since childhood, my son has been very interested in getting an education. He was enrolled in and graduated from the Faiz Mohammad Kateb School in Jaghori District. Approximately five years ago, he started coming to Kabul for education. In the summer, he would go to Jaghori for his school programs, and in the winter, he would return to Kabul to prepare for the university entrance exam and learn English.

A man raises his child, having thousands of hopes and dreams, and struggles to help his kid achieve success, but his dreams and achievements can be shattered in the blink of an eye. It is very difficult for a person to lose his young child. One can only be patient and not protest God’s will.

He graduated from school last year and was successfully enrolled in the aviation department of the military university. My son’s enrollment in university was announced just a few days before the incident. He was informed he must register within three days to be allowed to attend classes. His university was located within the Kabul airport campus. Then the Dahmazang incident happened and shattered all my son’s dreams. I buried my youth.

He studied hard and dreamed of graduating from the military department and serving his people and country. My family and I moved to Kabul almost three years ago to live in tranquility with my son. In addition to his studies, he also played sports and was very fond of football. He was a sociable and well-mannered young man who participated in the Movement programs and believed in equal rights for people. Given the dire security situation, I forbade him from attending Movement meetings. He responded, “Dad, if I don’t take part and somebody else is afraid for their safety, who else will defend our rights and advocate for the oppressed?” On the day of the incident, I called Jawid at 11 o’clock, and updated him about Khalili and Mohaqeq’s withdrawal. I asked him where he was. He sounded sad, and said, “I am in Dehmazang, don’t worry about me, and please don’t call me again. I am fine, nothing will happen.”

Before the July 23rd demonstration, he would always say: “Hazaras are an oppressed and suffering community, and the government is trying to deny the rights of Hazaras. We shall not remain silent. We need to stand up and fight for the rights of our people.” In response, I said those words were precious to me, but in this country, to seek one’s rights comes at the cost of one’s life, so he would do better to look after his own life and his education, and avoid putting himself in harm’s way. But he insisted and said, “Dad, it doesn’t matter if our problems are not addressed today. Maybe the next generations will benefit from our advocacy and action because they will, at least, realize that we fought for justice.”

Some time ago, I spoke with my son and said we wanted to select a good girl for him to marry and start his life. He told me, “Dad, now is not the right time, I have many plans, and I had better address my personal and educational problems first.” All he was concerned about was education, but he became a victim of the injustice of our corrupt government. I gave my young son to the earth and to God. As long as I live, this sorrow will not be lifted from my heart.

On July 23, 2016, two suicide bombers denoted their explosives among the protesters at Dehmazang Square in Kabul, the capital city of Afghanistan. The protesters, who were primarily Hazaras, were part of the Enlightenment Movement. They were protesting against the diversion of the TUTAP mega power project which would cause the project to bypass Hazara-dominated areas. At least 84 protesters lost their lives and 260-400 others were injured. The Islamic State of Khorasan Province (ISKP), the regional branch of ISIS, took credit for the attack. However, ISKP later refuted their involvement in the attack.

The Enlightenment Movement, also known as Junbesh-e Roshnayie, was a grassroots civil disobedience movement started by Hazaras in Afghanistan in response to a change in the Fichtner GmbH & Co. KG proposed Energy Supply Improvement Investment Program, unofficially called TUTAP project plans. The change in the project plans would cause it to bypass Hazara regions. The move was seen as perpetuating long-standing anti-Hazara discrimination. Throughout 2016 and 2017, the Enlightenment Movement coordinated large-scale demonstrations against discrimination both domestically in Afghanistan and abroad.

No statement

On July 23, 2016, two suicide bombers denoted their explosives among the protesters at Dehmazang Square in Kabul, the capital city of Afghanistan. The protesters, who were primarily Hazaras, were part of the Enlightenment Movement. They were protesting against the diversion of the TUTAP mega power project which would cause the project to bypass Hazara-dominated areas. At least 84 protesters lost their lives and 260-400 others were injured. The Islamic State of Khorasan Province (ISKP), the regional branch of ISIS, took credit for the attack. However, ISKP later refuted their involvement in the attack.

The Enlightenment Movement, also known as Junbesh-e Roshnayie, was a grassroots civil disobedience movement started by Hazaras in Afghanistan in response to a change in the Fichtner GmbH & Co. KG proposed Energy Supply Improvement Investment Program, unofficially called TUTAP project plans. The change in the project plans would cause it to bypass Hazara regions. The move was seen as perpetuating long-standing anti-Hazara discrimination. Throughout 2016 and 2017, the Enlightenment Movement coordinated large-scale demonstrations against discrimination both domestically in Afghanistan and abroad.

It Is Our People’s Right to Have Electricity

Narrator: Nasrin (wife)

Victim: Amir Mohammad Rahimi

Date of the incident: 23 July 2016

Location of the incident: Dehmazang, Kabul City

In the name of God,

I am Nasrin, the wife of the martyr Amir Mohammad. I have 5 children, two girls and three boys. We come from Bamiyan Province, in the district of Shibar, from Shanbal Village. We currently live in Kabul. Amir Mohammad was 45-years-old when he was martyred. However, I found out his age was recorded as older than that on his Tazkira (National ID Card).

Hamed, The Martyr’s Son:

My father was born in Kabul in 1970. He attended the Asif Mayil High School in Qala Nazer up to the 12th grade. My father had very good manners and morals and always encouraged us to do good deeds.

The Martyr's wife:

He studied up to the 12th grade. After that, he did not continue with his studies because of his difficult financial situation, and he started working. Sixteen years had passed since our marriage. He behaved very well with everyone and was a sociable and friendly person. He was very benevolent and calm. At home, he treated me and my children well. He always told us that we should defend our rights. Before the 23rd July demonstration, he would go to Mosala to participate in social events, especially those related to the Movement. He used to participate in the early meetings of the Movement and when he came home, he would talk about the right of our people. He used to say: “Electricity is a right of our people and we will stand up against the government if it violates our rights.”

He was self-employed. In the winter season, he worked with his cousin who had a store, selling Turkish stoves in Qala-e Nazer. My husband was literate and his cousin was illiterate, that's why he managed the finances of his cousin’s store. His cousin was the store owner and Amir Mohammad managed the store’s financial affairs. His dream was for his children to get an education. He was always kind at home and believed that there should not be a tense environment at home when life was already so difficult. When the issue of the 23rd July demonstration came up, I did not consent to him going to Dehmazang. I told him I did not want him taking part in the demonstration because an attack might happen. He answered, “We belong to this land and it is the right of our people to have access to electricity. We must defend the rights of our people and stand up against injustice.”

Hamed, The Martyr’s Son:

At first, it was decided that he would not go and take part in the demonstration. We tried to prevent my father from going, but his enthusiasm and his love for the people made him go to Dehmazang. We were watching the Dehmzang demonstration live on TV when the suicide attack happened. We immediately called my father to know where he was. He said he was in Dehmzang and had been injured. He was taken to Imam Ali Hospital. We got to the hospital. Since it was very crowded at this hospital and it was not possible for the staff to take care of all the patients, we transferred him to the Imam Zaman Hospital in Barchi.

The Martyr's wife:

His back was wounded, but he was not hurt severely. When we took him to the Imam Zaman Hospital, the doctor could not operate on him properly. At first, we didn't notice anything. But after a few days, his condition worsened. He suddenly had a seizure. We took him to the Rahel Hospital. They explained that all the fluid in his head was leaking into his body, and this was causing a problem with the lack of fluid in his brain. He was operated on again, but did not recover. The bullet had hit his back, but his spinal cord was not hurt.

Hamed, The Martyr’s Son:

First, we took him to Naser Khosrow Hospital. They told us there was a good specialist at the Imam Zaman Hospital in Barchi who could operate on the wounded, that's why we took him there and the doctor at this hospital operated on him.

The Martyr's wife:

When we visited him, Amir Mohammad said, "A police pick-up truck came in Dehmazang and I got on the back of the truck.” There were other wounded with him and that is how he got to the hospital.

Hamed, The Martyr’s Son:

At that time, his condition was not so serious. His legs were hurt, one leg was fractured, but it was not severe. In the Square, he wanted to find my cousin who was there at the demonstration, but he could not find him, and so he managed to get into the pick-up truck and get to hospital.

The Martyr's wife:

We took him to another hospital. Following the surgical operation, his legs stopped moving. Before the first operation, his leg was simply fractured due to the blast that had thrown him onto the ground. The doctor was dishonest; he didn't tell us before the operation that he didn't have the ability to perform the surgery. It would have been better if we could have transferred him to a better hospital or take him to Pakistan or India for the operation. After the operation, Amir Mohammad remained in a coma for four days. He never again opened his eyes. He repeatedly had seizures, and his brain fluid leaked through his back. He was hospitalized for four days in Rahel Hospital.

Hamed, The Martyr’s Son:

Preparations were made for taking him to India; we wanted to take him abroad for treatment, but he died before that could happen.

The Martyr's wife:

After my husband’s martyrdom/death, I went to the doctor to file a complaint. I asked him why he had performed such a critical operation when he lacked the know-how. He had nothing to say. When he met me, he held his head down; he was clearly embarrassed. I said to the doctor that he should have told us to take him to India or Pakistan for treatment. “Why did you do something that was beyond your ability?” Every time he examined my husband, he said, “It is okay, let this fluid come out of his body, because this is pus.” White fluid like milk came out of his back. Sometimes he could not straighten himself up easily; his back could sometimes not move. My husband died because of the negligence of this doctor. His leg was slightly fractured in the incident, and if the operation had not been done in that hospital, he could still be alive today.

I will never forgive this doctor because he ruined our life. After my husband’s martyrdom, my brother-in-law has been helping us because my son has to go to school; he can’t work. Now we have no other choice. God took my husband from us and we cannot do anything other than remain patient.

I ask the government to pay attention to the families of the Martyrs. The independent human rights commission should investigate this crime. My children are all young; my youngest son is just three years old. Now they are helpless. Their uncle can only help us for one year. The economic situation in the entire country is already bad without one family having to support another family for a long time. Since my children are young, I can't work and leave them alone. So, if there is any sewing or embroidery opportunity that I can do from home, I will definitely start working. My children must get an education and have a bright future.

On July 23, 2016, two suicide bombers denoted their explosives among the protesters at Dehmazang Square in Kabul, the capital city of Afghanistan. The protesters, who were primarily Hazaras, were part of the Enlightenment Movement. They were protesting against the diversion of the TUTAP mega power project which would cause the project to bypass Hazara-dominated areas. At least 84 protesters lost their lives and 260-400 others were injured. The Islamic State of Khorasan Province (ISKP), the regional branch of ISIS, took credit for the attack. However, ISKP later refuted their involvement in the attack.

The Enlightenment Movement, also known as Junbesh-e Roshnayie, was a grassroots civil disobedience movement started by Hazaras in Afghanistan in response to a change in the Fichtner GmbH & Co. KG proposed Energy Supply Improvement Investment Program, unofficially called TUTAP project plans. The change in the project plans would cause it to bypass Hazara regions. The move was seen as perpetuating long-standing anti-Hazara discrimination. Throughout 2016 and 2017, the Enlightenment Movement coordinated large-scale demonstrations against discrimination both domestically in Afghanistan and abroad.

His Face Was Covered in Blood and One of His Hands Was Stuck Behind His Back

Narrator: Masouma (mother)

Victim: Sayed Baqer Musavi

Date of the incident: 23 July 2016

Location of the incident: Dehmazang, Kabul City

I am the mother of the martyr Sayed Baqer. He was born in 2003. He was a sixth grader at Gulkhana school in Barchi. My son grew up in hardship; he had seen difficult things. In the evening before the demonstration, martyr Baqer told me that the next day, he wanted to take his ice cream cart to the demonstration site to sell ice cream to people. I told him to stay at home instead and not go out so that I could wash his clothes and he could take a bath.

The next day, I was busy with the household chores. I didn't notice when Sayed left the house at 8 o'clock. Before his martyrdom, he either sold ice cream or gathered passengers for the minivans under the flyover. His father had a stomach ache the night before the incident and went to bed without eating dinner. The next morning, his father still had a stomach ache. He has been sick for a long time, so he was sleeping. I woke him up twice during the day, asking him if there was a demonstration happening. He said no, the demonstration had been cancelled. So I felt reassured and believed there was no demonstration and that Baqer had gone to work. I was just finishing washing clothes and was supposed to rinse them when Sayed Baqer’s father came to me and said a suicide attack had happened in Dehmazang. He asked me where Baqer was. He wanted to go to Dehmazang. I was worried and angrily asked him what he was waiting for and wanted him to go there immediately. His father left the house while I continued with the household chores. I rinsed the clothes and hung them on the rope in the sun.

After finishing, I went to the room and turned on the TV and tuned into Tolo network. It was broadcasting news of the Dehmazang attack and the critical situation, showing the dead bodies. I saw a boy with a blue jacket and black pants on TV, and for a moment I thought he was Baqer, but he was not. I moved away from the TV. His grandmother was also at home. She asked me where I was going. I couldn’t tell her I was going to Dehmazang. To avoid her questions, I told her I was just going to the mosque. Wearing my prayer veil, I went to the mosque. From there, I went to a shrine near Pol-e-Sokhta. A mullah was sitting in the shrine. I went to him and asked him to do a Stikhara [consult the Holy Quran]. He told me, “Mother, don't cry, go make a vow and pay alms on your son’s behalf and he will come home by evening.” From there, I made it to the flyover, but I did not see anyone there. I went to the Barchi taxi station. I had reached Gulai when his father called me and asked where I was. I said I was at Gulai. He told me to go to the ice cream distribution center and ask if Sayed Baqer had retrieved ice cream for sale that day. I went there and asked them about it. The owner told me “He got ice cream yesterday but didn't come to get ice cream today.” From there, I went home, sat in the front yard for a few minutes, but I couldn't take it. I left the house again. By the time I arrived at Gulai, the Mullah called for the evening prayer.

I called his father and asked where he was. He said, “I searched Dehmazang square. Our son is not there; now I am going to the Esteqlal Hospital. You should go to the Hospitals in Pol-e Khoshk because they took some of the wounded there.” So, I visited the Alami and Watan Hospitals. They told me in Watan Hospital that a person named Baqer was in Ferdous Hospital in Pol-e Sokhta. I left for Pol-e Sokhta and arrived at 7:00 PM. When I entered the hospital, they told me that there was no one named Baqer in that hospital. They said three wounded had been taken there, but were later transferred to the Wazir Akbar Khan Hospital. They wanted me to go to Mawla Ali Hospital in Kot-e-Sangi because many of the wounded were there. I visited Mawla Ali Hospital. They too told me they had transferred the wounded to Wazir Akbar Khan Hospital; Baqer's name was not on their list. There were a few people there who told me to go to Karte Sakhi. They said they had taken the bodies to the mosque there. When I got there, it was very quiet and the gates of the mosque were closed. Someone told us that they had not taken the martyrs there. He said wherever the wounded were taken, that was where the martyrs would also be.

From there, I went to Pul-e Sorkh where I called his father. He had gone to Wazir Akbar Khan Hospital. He told me he was going to Ibn Sina Hospital and wanted me to join him there. We went there and searched. Our son was not there either. We also visited the Maiwand Hospital, and he was not there either. At Maiwand Hospital, we were told a 13-year-old boy was in a coma and they had taken himto Wazir Akbar Khan Hospital. So we went back to Wazir Akbar Khan Hospital, but when we got there and saw the 13-year-old boy, it was not Baqer. From there, we went to the Jomhoriat Hospital, but he was not there either. Following that, we visited the Emergency and Aliabad Hospitals where we searched for Baqer, but still we could not find him. We continued searching until around 1:30 AM but did not find him. At 2 am, his father and I returned home. When we got home, I asked his father if he had seen his boots in Dehmazang. He said, “A slipper was lying on the ground with a hole in the sole.” The day before the incident, he told me, “Mother! My slipper is torn and my feet get dirty.” I told him, “Use it for one more day. Your father will buy you a new pair tomorrow.” Remembering the slipper and his words, I felt terrible. I thought my son Baqer must have been torn into pieces because we found him neither among the dead nor among the injured.

By early morning, I asked his father to take me to Dehmazang so that I could see his slippers closely so I could recognise them, as I know them. Right at that moment, his aunt came and the three of us went to Dehmazang together. When we got there, we found out that people had gathered the belongings of the wounded and the martyrs and taken them away by 2:30 am. The municipality workers and the passing traffic was washing the blood off the road. I did not see anything except a piece of human flesh lying on the road. We had not checked two last hospitals, that's why we then went to the Afshar and National Security Hospitals. Sayed Baqer was not at Afshar Hospital. When we went to the National Security Hospital, his father started searching. A few moments later, he came back to us and asked, “Did Baqer have a scarf with him?” I said no, he had not taken a scarf. His father said, “Baqir is here, they have placed a scarf on him.” I asked him if he was alive. He said, “No, he has been killed.” He asked me if I wanted to see him. My answer was yes. I went near the gate but the police would not allow me to enter the room. They said his aunt could enter but I was not allowed. His aunt went in and came back to ask what Baqer was wearing. I told his aunt he had on a blue jacket and black trousers.

I passed out right away. They had to take me home in a car. After I left the hospital, they took his body to the mosque. When I regained consciousness at home, I cried and mourned a lot. I begged them to let me see him even if his body was not intact, even if there was just one fingerer left, or even if there was not even a finger left, at least let me see his clothes. They lis-tened to me and brought him home. There was a wound on his back. He had been bleeding from his nose and mouth. His face was covered in blood and one of his hands was stuck behind his back. All his clothes were burned. Only fragments of his shirt and pants remained. His hair was completely burned as if you set a sheep on fire. This sorrow will never leave my heart.

If it was a competent government, why would our children become martyrs in such a way that their pain burns through our whole life? We live with that sorrow every day and every moment.

On July 23, 2016, two suicide bombers denoted their explosives among the protesters at Dehmazang Square in Kabul, the capital city of Afghanistan. The protesters, who were primarily Hazaras, were part of the Enlightenment Movement. They were protesting against the diversion of the TUTAP mega power project which would cause the project to bypass Hazara-dominated areas. At least 84 protesters lost their lives and 260-400 others were injured. The Islamic State of Khorasan Province (ISKP), the regional branch of ISIS, took credit for the attack. However, ISKP later refuted their involvement in the attack.

The Enlightenment Movement, also known as Junbesh-e Roshnayie, was a grassroots civil disobedience movement started by Hazaras in Afghanistan in response to a change in the Fichtner GmbH & Co. KG proposed Energy Supply Improvement Investment Program, unofficially called TUTAP project plans. The change in the project plans would cause it to bypass Hazara regions. The move was seen as perpetuating long-standing anti-Hazara discrimination. Throughout 2016 and 2017, the Enlightenment Movement coordinated large-scale demonstrations against discrimination both domestically in Afghanistan and abroad.

No Statement

On July 23, 2016, two suicide bombers denoted their explosives among the protesters at Dehmazang Square in Kabul, the capital city of Afghanistan. The protesters, who were primarily Hazaras, were part of the Enlightenment Movement. They were protesting against the diversion of the TUTAP mega power project which would cause the project to bypass Hazara-dominated areas. At least 84 protesters lost their lives and 260-400 others were injured. The Islamic State of Khorasan Province (ISKP), the regional branch of ISIS, took credit for the attack. However, ISKP later refuted their involvement in the attack.

The Enlightenment Movement, also known as Junbesh-e Roshnayie, was a grassroots civil disobedience movement started by Hazaras in Afghanistan in response to a change in the Fichtner GmbH & Co. KG proposed Energy Supply Improvement Investment Program, unofficially called TUTAP project plans. The change in the project plans would cause it to bypass Hazara regions. The move was seen as perpetuating long-standing anti-Hazara discrimination. Throughout 2016 and 2017, the Enlightenment Movement coordinated large-scale demonstrations against discrimination both domestically in Afghanistan and abroad.

I called home again, I was worried

Narrator: Ahmad (brother)

Victim: Ghulam Ali Alizada

Date of the incident: 23 July 2016

Location of the incident: Dehmazang, Kabul City

I am Ahmad, Ghulam Ali’s brother. We are from Bahador, a village in the Nawur district of Ghazni province. The martyr was also born in this province. When the Dehmazang incident happened, I was living in Iran. I was following the news on a Friday when it was said that the demonstration scheduled for the next day had been cancelled. As on every other day, I watched the news and went to work on the Saturday. I was at work when my employer told me that there had been a suicide attack on demonstrators in Kabul. I called Ghulam Ali immediately but he didn’t answer his phone. I called him again but this time someone else picked up his phone. I asked him where Ghulam Ali was. He said, "Ali is wounded and is now in hospital but he is not in a critical condition. His leg has been slightly injured." My heart was still restless and I called home but my father did not know anything. Only my little brother knew about the incident and he had not yet told my father anything. He was waiting for the situation to calm down. I called Ghulam Ali again and the same boy answered again. The boy said that he was in Musalla and Ghulam Ali was good and safe and swore that he was not lying. My father called me at 8 o’clock and told me that he was going to Kabul because Ghulam Ali was injured. When he arrived there, he searched several hospitals for him but did not find him. My father went to the 400-bed hospital but they did not let him in. Ghulam Ali’s name was on the hospital’s list of wounded. After my father insisted that he be let in, the doctors told him that Ghulam Ali is good, that it is not time for a visit, and that he should wait outside. At about 2 o’clock, they called my father to go inside. Before he could see Ghulam Ali, they told him that Ghulam Ali had been martyred.

After a few minutes, they received Ghulam Ali’s body from the hospital and took it to Musalla. When they took Ghulam Ali from Musalla to Ghazni, no one told my mother anything. The only thing they told her is that he has been injured and hospitalized and that no visitors were allowed. There is a mosque near our house. People gather in the alley and at the mosque. They asked my mother to go to the mosque. She responded to them, asking what would she do at the mosque while her son is injured. Then they inform my mother of his martyrdom, and she passed out instantly. My other brother who lived in Nawur was not aware of the incident either. They called him to go home, and he also arrived home.

The day after the incident, I called home from Iran to check up on Ghulam Ali. They said that he was good and that my mother had gone to Kabul to be by my brother’s side. They told me not to worry as he was good. But I was indeed worried, and so I called home again after a while and asked them to send me a photo of Ghulam Ali. They made some excuse that the doctors did not allow them to take photos. I waited for a while and called them again, and this time they told me he had been taken to India for treatment. I was still in Iran and could not do anything but wait for them to report my brother’s condition to me. It was very hard for me to stay for 20 days in Iran without knowing. In the end, I ran out of patience and left my work there and returned to Afghanistan. I arrived home at night and felt the atmosphere of grief at home. My other brother was not in Ghazni either. When I asked about him, they told me he had gone to Kabul to be at Ghulam Ali’s side. The next morning, people came to visit me. I decided to go to Kabul to see my brother in-person, but my nephews gathered in our house and said that Ghulam Ali had been martyred, asking me where was I going, and told me that I should stay there.

For the Eid of Ramadan (Eid ul-Fitr) holidays, Ghulam Ali had gone home to be with my parents. He called me and asked when I would be coming home as our parents had become very old and there was no one by their side at home, as he had to return to Kabul after the holidays because he had many classes and could not travel back and forth on that dangerous route every week. I assured him that I would go home in the fall, in the month of Mizan (September-October), and he was very happy at that, and said his classes would also finish by then and he too would come home. On Friday, he reached Kabul, travelling back from Ghazni, and on Saturday he participated in the demonstration. Unfortunately, this ominous incident happened to him and left us in grief forever. He was a well-behaved and sociable boy and when he came home in the winter, he would teach the children in our area. All the local people loved him and still speak highly of him.

On July 23, 2016, two suicide bombers denoted their explosives among the protesters at Dehmazang Square in Kabul, the capital city of Afghanistan. The protesters, who were primarily Hazaras, were part of the Enlightenment Movement. They were protesting against the diversion of the TUTAP mega power project which would cause the project to bypass Hazara-dominated areas. At least 84 protesters lost their lives and 260-400 others were injured. The Islamic State of Khorasan Province (ISKP), the regional branch of ISIS, took credit for the attack. However, ISKP later refuted their involvement in the attack.

The Enlightenment Movement, also known as Junbesh-e Roshnayie, was a grassroots civil disobedience movement started by Hazaras in Afghanistan in response to a change in the Fichtner GmbH & Co. KG proposed Energy Supply Improvement Investment Program, unofficially called TUTAP project plans. The change in the project plans would cause it to bypass Hazara regions. The move was seen as perpetuating long-standing anti-Hazara discrimination. Throughout 2016 and 2017, the Enlightenment Movement coordinated large-scale demonstrations against discrimination both domestically in Afghanistan and abroad.

He Believed the Issue was not so much Electricity as the Suffering of the Hazaras

Narrator: Masouma Jafari (wife)

Victim: Mohammad Zia Jafari

Date of the incident: 23 July 2016

Location of the incident: Dehmazang, Kabul City

Mohammad Zia was born in May 1979 in Sangsurakh Village, Jaghori District,Ghazni Province. He was the youngest child of the family and had six brothers and one sister. His father traveled to Iran for work and to provide for the family. On his way back to Afghanistan, while he had stopped to buy gifts for his children, he died in an accident. My husband was one year and six months old when his father died. So Mohammad Zia grew up an orphan. His brothers helped raise him until he finished his education. During the Taliban era, he moved to Iran to improve his living conditions. He lived there until 2011. In Iran, he worked in stone masonry. From 2001, he took up calligraphy and painting, attending classes in Iran. He was not allowed to get a certificate because he was Afghan. But they knew and respected him as an artist there. We got engaged in 2010 and got married a year later. After our wedding, we lived in Iran for almost a year. Then we returned to Afghanistan, to Kandahar City. We lived there for two years during which he worked in a hotel. Later we moved to Kabul, where we lived for three years. Mohammad Zia had several jobs here, from painting to opening an art shop where he sold his carvings. In his spare time, he was always creating artwork. He participated in events organized to commemorate Baba Mazari.

During the summer, we had travelled somewhere together. Upon our return, when we came close to Mosala, we heard the announcement about the Enlightenment Movement. He got excited and said if the movement continued, he would participate in it. He gradually became more engaged in civic activities and used to go to listen to Behzad's speeches.

At first, he was just following the Movement programs through Facebook. Then he took part in the first demonstration. Without me knowing, he had gone to Dehmazang Square. I was concerned as my husband would not share much about his involvement in the Movement. To reassure me, he would often tell me he had been somewhere else.

The night before the demonstration, he was very upset because of Khalili's withdrawal from the demonstration. He repeatedly said, “Khalili encouraged and rallied people initially, but now he has withdrawn. People lived quietly in their homes; what was the need for him to fire us up and then turn his back on us?” When he was at the first demonstration, he did not say anything to me so that I would not worry. He even said that since he was now a father and had a child, he would not participate in those events.

He had come to believe that the issue was not so much about electricity as about the suffering of the Hazaras. On the day of the incident, he did not tell me he was planning to take part in the demonstration. I woke up at ten to six in the morning. I didn't think that it would be the last time I saw him. It seemed like he was going to the bakery to get some bread and come back straightaway because he didn't even say goodbye.

The demonstration was a disaster that we got caught up in. It was a cruel betrayal of the people’s hopes by our elders. It is unclear what the purpose of the demonstration was given the huge cost to the families of the victims. I constantly wonder why I had to lose my husband. I just know that my home now feels cold and depressing. I lost my man, and for nothing. Before this incident, my main concern was that there was not a good park in Afghanistan for my daughters to have fun in, but today, my daughter, Nazanin’s, wish is for a plane to come and take us to her father in the sky. I had no problems in my life before this incident. I grew up in Iran, and as I said, when I returned to Afghanistan, we lived in Kandahar for two years. In that city, I was troubled about why women in Kandahar should wear veils while people and women in other countries enjoy such freedom. I worked as a teacher in Kandahar for one year and I was pained to see what the girls went through there.

Now my pain is losing my man for an issue that felt very remote to my concerns. The problem of electricity supply in Bamiyan did not concern my family because we never lived in Bamiyan. We never worked there, and didn’t have the money to build a factory in Bamiyan. We didn't need electricity but my husband took to the streets for what he said was not so much about electricity as about the suffering of Hazara people. Several times a day, I ask myself if the suffering of the Hazaras has ended. How do I deal with the loss of my daughter’s father and how do I deal with this huge pain and sadness? Maybe I have not understood anything. But I lament the discomfort of my life and I am shattered by pain and grief. Maybe those who were there at the demonstration knew more than us. But why should their blood have been spilled and trampled on?

I will never forgive or pardon Behzad, Khalili , Mohaqiq, Daoud Naji, and Danesh. Our government is corrupt and they are cowards, like Mohaqiq who represents our people within the government. Mohaqiq and Khalili should not have informed people about the electricity supply problems in Bamiyan in the first place, because they rallied people around this cause only to let them down later. We all knew that these corrupt leaders would abandon us. I don’t understand why we were so naïve as to believe in them. Khalili came on the TV to say that they had made peace and that peace did not mean surrender. It was an absurd statement to make, which brainwashed our naïve people. Now as a consequence of this, my home is empty.

Before the 23rd of July, I was struggling, but quite differently to now. My life has changed completely. When I visit the Martyrs Hill, I think of all those people who had to go through immense challenges to get an education. Today they are sleeping under the ground. In a single instant, a 10 or maybe 11-year-old boy killed 86 people with a bomb hidden in an ice cream cart and made thousands of families mourn. Behzad talked about the cruelty of Abdur Rahman Khan and how many people he massacred. But in my opinion, Behzad is no less of a murderer than Abdur Rahman, because he puts on a suit and a tie and spreads lies about taking care of the widows and orphans of the victims of 23rd July. Nobody takes care of us. Talking to people, they believe that that our families [of martyrs] receive 5,000 to 10,000 AFN every month. You may not believe me, but before the death of my husband, I did not need to ask anyone for a single penny. Those leaders became famous for helping the families of the 23rd July victims. What if the wives of Khalili, Mohaqiq, Behzad, Naji, and Danesh had become widows? Then the children of these traitors would also have become orphans, and not ours. We are the poor, helpless people. All those who supported this demonstration and caused our youth and heads of families to be provoked to take to the streets are now safely and happily living in their own homes.

My heart aches and bleeds for my children. Some families come to me and say: “You are not the only one who has responsibility for these orphans, we consider them our orphans too.” But why should my child have become an orphan, and for no good reason? I was not rich, but I know how painful it is to be an orphan. I lost my father when I was a child. Why should my child have to suffer this same devastating pain? At what cost? Why should my husband have died and why should I be asking myself a thousand times a day what will happen to us?

Leaders knew that Afghanistan was insecure. I may not be very well integrated in the community, but I hear that every day. All the news reports of explosions and suicides bombings. Funerals, mosques, even hospitals have been hit by suicide attacks. Suicide bombers have not spared the wounded, women, or children. If you all grew up in Afghanistan and you know the horrendous security conditions in the country, why would you go and gather people together instead of protecting them? You had the money to organise demonstrations, so why not deploy soldiers to provide security during the demonstration? Why not ask the national security and police for help? Why play with the lives and fate of our [Hazara] families? The people who organized this demonstration were neither injured nor martyred. Only poor people lost their lives.

Now, all my daughter's wishes are summed up in this one sentence: "the plane will come and we will go to the sky to daddy." I met martyr Sarwar's wife. She said that now the world is worthless, and I too have come to believe that the world is cruel. The Taliban kills its own members, ISIS kills its own people, but I do wonder why Hazaras kill other Hazaras. Why do we sacrifice our own for nothing? For transient power? For a position that does not last? What for? Do they think we, the families of the victims, will forget the bloody incident of 23rd July or ignore the rights of our children and families? That will never happen!

Our marriage was going well and we had dreams. I dreamed that when my second daughter grew up a little, I could work alongside my husband and become a teacher. I was a kindergarten teacher in Iran. Likewise, my husband wished to progress in his artistic work, to promote woodcarving in Kabul and rent a shop for his work. But the Movement leaders, these people have destroyed my dreams, as well as the dreams of my daughters and our lives. My husband leaves the house in good health. They bring him back wrapped as a gift and simply say, "Sorry, a suicide attack happened." Looking at our situation, they give him a title: “the martyr for justice”. The government pays 100,000 AFN, the Movement gives 50,000 AFN, and 10,000 AFN are donated from somewhere. Do you think that is what someone’s family member is worth? We want our family member back. We don't want your hundred thousand, fifty thousand, or ten thousand Afghanis.

While my husband was still alive, if someone brought us a gift, I would refuse it. You may call it pride or whatever you like, I don't care. I didn't like people helping us. Now, when they deliver aid to our house, I tell them I don't need it. But they tell me it is for the orphans of the martyrs and not for me, and that I must accept it. My daughter was never far from her father, not even for a single night. My husband never left us alone. I sent my daughter to kindergarten for a while, but after this incident, my daughter no longer wants to go there because she is scared. She is not alone in this; we are all afraid. After the death of my husband, I feel very scared and lonely, but I try to be strong for Nazanin.

The people who organized this demonstration are all living their lives and taking care of their work and I am the one who has now become helpless. I ask myself a thousand times a day: now that we have lost Mohammad Zia, would he still be willing to take part in the demonstration, if he were still here? Mohammad Zia, are you happy leaving your daughters alone like this? Has the Hazaras' suffering ended? Who will heal our pain now? Why should you have had to sacrifice yourself to heal the pain of the Hazaras? When I was at the Martyrs Hill, a few boys were telling each other to take photos for Facebook. We have lost our men, and people are thinking of taking a Facebook photo.

When my husband used to work at his wood carving, I was happy and also scared. I was afraid he might hurt his hand. He used to watch art programs on Iranian TV channels to learn about artworks. I am bitter to think that once I was afraid of him hurting his hand, and now I have lost him completely.

The night before the demonstration, Mohammad Zia went out to do some grocery shopping for the house. When he got home, he was very sad and said, “Khalili has withdrawn and abandoned the people.” We had just recently moved to this house and there was no running water yet in the building. All my thoughts and concerns were about washing clothes and dishes. To me, it didn't matter who had withdrawn. He even named a particular hospital that announced they were ready to take care of any potential problems the next day. He also said that they had prepared several water tankers so that people would not face a shortage of water. He was talking about those issues but I didn’t really listen because I was thinking about something else. On the day of the incident, he woke up at 10 to 6. I was sleeping with my daughters in the other room when I heard a sound. I got up and asked him what he was doing. He said he needed his backpack. I asked him what he needed it for. He said he wanted to go and take part in the demonstration. I got upset and said I did not agree with him going. He got up and shook his head but said nothing.

Right then, we heard an announcement. He hurriedly left the house as if he had missed the car. He didn't look back, and left the house without even saying goodbye. If he had stayed at home, he would have tended to our little girl and I could have easily done my housework. I called him at 7 o'clock to know where he was. He said he was at Musala. At 9:00 and 11:30, I called him again and asked about his whereabouts. When I called him again, he said they had arrived at Kot-e-Sangi. I was restless; I called again. He said they were at the square. The last time I called him was at around ten minutes to 2 pm. He said the demonstration was over and he was coming home. He said people were raising tents to stay there overnight but he would come back home. There was a lot of noise in the background and I could hear Dawood Sarkhosh's song being played, so I couldn’t hear my husband clearly. After saying goodbye, I hung up the phone. Later, people reported that the explosion occurred before the end of Dawood Sarkhosh's song. I was waiting at home for him to come back. It was 2:30 but Zia was nowhere to be seen. At 3:30, there was still no news of him. After I put my daughters down for a nap, I went to see my brother-in-law and his family who live downstairs. I sat next to my brother-in-law’s wife. She asked me if Zia had called. I was not in the right mood, I absentmindedly replied, "No, he has not called." She asked if I was supposed to do anything. I told her there was nothing I could do. Recalling the story today, I feel she knew about the explosion and wanted to know if I knew too. I came back to my house a bit later in the afternoon. I looked at several TV stations, but none of them was covering the demonstration. But when I tuned to Tolo TV, both the subtitles and footage showed the wounded. The presenter announced that a deadly attack had hit the protest group in Dehmazang.

I called Mohammad Zia but his phone was switched off. I called him again, worried by now, but his phone was not working. I went downstairs and told my husband’s cousin that Zia was at the demonstration, and that a suicide attack had happened there, and Zia's phone was switched off. I was very worried and asked him what I should do. He said not to worry, it would be okay. He was a student. I asked him if some of his friends were in Dehmazang for the demonstration. He said they were in Dehmazang but had returned to their dorm. Until 9:00 p.m. that evening, I kept calling those who were looking for Zia. One of them was visiting one hospital and someone else was at another. One of the hospitals had told them that since it was late at night, they were not allowed to enter, and should come back the next day to get information. I prayed and was very worried. I thought he had either fainted or was not well. But others comforted me and said he is a smart and responsible person and must be helping others who are wounded. I calmed down a bit, and I thought he would be fine and would come back home. But by midnight, there was still no news of him and I knew then that something bad had happened to him. I prayed until the morning and made a vow to give bread to charity the next day. It was an ominous and terrible night. I was awake all night and prayed and recited the Holy Quran. After those events, after the incident, I felt my prayers, my worship, and recitation of the Holy Quran were useless. I lost my religious beliefs and became perplexed.

That entire night, I had less than twenty minutes of restless sleep. At 6 in the morning, I told my brother I would visit the hospital myself to look for him. He said I could not do it on my own because the hospitals were very crowded. But I insisted and said that if men are not allowed to enter, maybe women are. I wanted to leave the house immediately, but my brother said, “I know a good driver who’s skilled and knows the city well; wait for him to arrive.” I was so worried that I kept going up and down until 8 in the morning. I felt very restless and had run out of patience. My brother said that a suicide bomber had entered the city and the security situation was not good. At 9:30 am, the vehicle finally arrived and my brother and I began searching. But it was useless. We visited the hospitals in Barchi and Western Kabul. They said all the wounded were transferred to 400-bed and Wazir Akbar Khan hospitals. My brother wanted to take me back home; he did not want me with him. But first we went to Musala around 11:00 am as we had been told that was where some of the martyrs had been taken. When I got out of the car, it felt like this was the end of the world. Quran recitation was being played at Musala and no one was smiling. People looked exhausted and sad. I looked around. Everyone was grieving. Musala was very crowded and there were no ladies there. The police had gathered within the crowd. My brother said there were no other women inside Musala, and we should go, but I insisted, “I will go inside, maybe they will allow me.” Inside Musala, people were wandering around as if it was doomsday, and no one was speaking. Then I went and waited in the car for half an hour. My brother said they hadn’t brought Zia in yet, but would bring in the wounded at 3:00 pm.

I was so beside myself with worry that I didn't even question why they would bring the wounded to Musala. I remained speechless and didn't protest. I was scared at the news of another potential suicide bombing and said it was better we left because three suicide bombers were said to be in the city and there was the possibility of another attack. So we returned home. At 2 p.m., I asked my brother to go back to Musala. He replied, “There is someone there who can identify Zia and bring the wounded home.” At 2:30, I heard a noise coming from the stairs. That day, I kept mentioning Fatima Zahra's name and I was very scared. I kept praying to God to not let me hear bad news. A few minutes later, some women informed me of Zia’s death. In that moment, all I could hear was someone asking to close the windows because of the stormy weather. Someone else said the storm was happening because innocent blood had been shed. We humans don't always realize it or take it seriously, but it seemed like the cosmos was upset and was protesting.

After some time, they brought Zia in. I was desperate. I have no words to describe my bleeding heart. They only comforted me by saying I should thank God that his body was intact because many martyrs lost their limbs and some were dismembered. Later, our relatives from Pakistan and Jaghori visited our house. Only one shrapnel had hit him in the back of his head. My husband's cousin was with Zia and said, “Zia was far from the explosion, he wanted to get water when the explosion happened. A few minutes earlier, he had said he wanted to go home, but the wave of the explosion threw him some distance away, and shrapnel hit his head.”

Anyway, my man is gone and left us all alone in profound grief. My family and my husband’s family are in Iran; there is no one here. I used to visit Imam Ali’s Mosque once a week to offer pilgrimage and would take my daughters with me. When I was in Iran, I used to visit pilgrimage sites and pray. Sakhi Shrine was a long way from where we lived, and I could not go there on my own, carrying a child. It so happened that Zia’s funeral ceremony was being held in this mosque. What sin did I and my daughters commit? I used to be a strong believer and after the 23rd July incident, I thought I must have been guilty of something for God to take my husband from us. But when the Baqir-ul-Uloom mosque incident happened, I started to ask myself what sin have these people committed and why were they killed? Now I have lost all my religious beliefs.

In this country, they don't even spare people's corpses. A suicide bomber blows himself up among them [at a funeral]. Why doesn’t the government provide security for the people? Why don't people learn not to participate in this dirty game, and so avoid losing their lives for no good reason? They massacre a group of people protesting in Dehmazang in the name of Hazara rights, and kill another group of Hazara praying inside a mosque. Did killing 86 people help the discrimination faced by the Hazaras in any way? Did it bring electricity to Bamyan?

Today we are left alone at home, where is he? Sometimes I tell myself, from now on, the Hazaras should only demonstrate in their own homes because it is meaningless for our people to stand up in Afghanistan. After that incident, whenever I hear that a demonstration has taken place in any country, I always say to myself that I hope they will be able to return home safely and not have to mourn a loved one killed in an attack.

We object to this National Unity government. Hey, government! You killed our innocent people! I wish you had imprisoned our youth instead of blowing them up! After the incident, someone visited our house to offer Fatiha and said, “There were two explosions that day. The first explosion was not that strong. Someone called on everyone to lie down on the ground. Right at that moment, there was a second explosion.”

The government fired at youth while they were running. The government used force against the Hazaras, especially against members of the Movement and Hazara leaders. I lost my man. Talking does not help me; my husband was killed for no good reason. Hey, government! It was better you deported those who participated in the demonstrations to other provinces! You did not have to kill them! The first Martyr on Martrys Hill is my husband, Zia. Next to him, two brothers are buried. Look at everyone, they are all young but are lying under the ground. Whenever I visit the Hill, I keep telling myself that they died and their dreams died with them. Mohammad Zia used to raise my daughter on his lap and hold her in his arms. Because he himself had suffered from being an orphan, he pampered his daughter as much as he could.

My mental state is improving now, and I am getting better in every way. I spent the first days in despair, crying and moaning. Nazanin would wake up in the middle of the night, and she would start crying and have nightmares. When my husband was alive, he would comfort her if she cried. After the martyrdom of Mohammad Zia, my daughter became very restless and she constantly has nightmares. I had also lost my spirit and would cry at night when I woke up to soothe my daughter. Before the incident, my second daughter was 6 months old. Her father was teaching her to stand up, to hold objects, even to walk. With her father's encouragement, she dared to stand up little by little. Now, she stands up, leaning against the wall or other objects, and walks slowly. But her father is no longer with us to see this.

These leaders and the government destroyed my children's world and made my life miserable. Martyr Hekmat's wife found out that she was pregnant after her husband was killed. Now she lives in sorrow, just like a dead person. Who will take care of us? What sin did our children commit that they were made orphans? My heart burns to see that Hazaras do not have mercy on their own people. What can you expect from extremist Pashtuns, ISIS, and others, when your own people become your killers? In Iran, I was a teacher in a Pashtun school and I liked the Pashtun children. They were courageous and hardworking and did not bother anyone. My father grew up in Lashkargah and always said, “Not all Pashtuns are bad; there are many kind and good-hearted people among them.” But after the Dehmazang incident, I lost my belief also in them. I am sick of those people. I don't know if it’s wrong of me to believe this, but after they shed the blood of all those innocent young people, including my husband, I no longer love or respect them like before. I used to treat other people without prejudice. I watched other people’s TV stations because I had suffered from racism and insults in Iran. When I returned to my country, I liked the people in Kabul, and I liked that I didn't have to change my accent when I spoke to my own people.

But today, I no longer watch Afghan TV stations, and especially not Rahe Farda and Negah. They traded in the blood and lives of their people. All I think about is that time is passing, and what have you, Mr. Khalili, Mohaqiq, Danesh, Naji, and Behzad, managed to achieve? Some time ago, they posted a big photo of Mohammad Zia on the street. When I was going to buy bread, I would tell him, “Zia, look what your Hazaras are doing!” Do Mohaqiq and Khalili need the support of their people again? Will the people be fooled once again by Khalili and Mohaqiq's shows? When I visit the Martyrs’ Hill, I see young people lying under the ground, and each one of them was adored by their families. My poor daughters were unjustly orphaned.

I used to think that a widow was an old woman, but now I am that widow myself, and now I realize that widowhood does not distinguish between young and old. In this country, people are killed easily. Then they give them a title: Martyr. According to them [the leaders], martyrdom is an honor, so I say to them: then let this honor be yours! What sin did Mohammad Zia commit? What did his wife and children do to end up in such misery? What was the sin of Martyr Hekmat's wife whose husband was killed? I moved to Afghanistan only because of Mohammad Zia.

When people from Europe and Australia came to propose to me, I refused. I told them I wanted to study and return to my country, and to serve my people. The homeland is like a mother and we owe her so much. When the incident happened to Zia, I started to hate this country. This country gave me and my family a bloody bad deal and took my loved one from us. Around evening time, I look at the mountains and out of loneliness and sadness, I tell them, “I used to see you like a mother and a sheltering place. Why did you treat me and my loved one this way? What shall I do with this huge burden of sadness that I have?” Forgive me for sharing my story and disclosing my sorrows to you. You must have already got tired with all my words. I try to hold onto my nerves, but when I recall the sorrows that hit me at the beginning of my life, I wish to go to the mountains and cry and complain about life and about the whole human race.

Some time ago, I visited a family therapist and a psychologist. He said that I cannot accept my husband’s death because of my love for him. But he said that this is the bitter reality that I must accept so that I am able to live a normal life. Until a few months ago, when I would visit Mohammad Zia’s grave, I would talk to him: “I wish the ground would shake and take me in. I can't tolerate this sadness anymore. Why did you leave me alone? You did not even travel away from home, so as to not leave your daughters and me alone. You would always tell to me when you were offered a job in a remote place, ‘Why should I leave you to go somewhere else for work?’ But then you left us for a frivolous job and this time, you never came back. You have left us alone for the rest of our lives. Are you happy with that? How will I spend my dark and sad nights?" Mohammad Zia really loved this land and its people and he has given his life for this country, but this country did not love him back. The best thing my neighbors' do to help is that they send their daughters to play with Nazanin, so my daughter does not feel lonely and sad. When Nazanin is alone, she keeps fantasizing and imagining flying in the sky, and a plane. She wishes a plane could take us to her father. Sometimes, she finds me keeping quiet and watches me shedding tears. So, to calm me down, she says: "Mom, don't be sad, I will save my money, then we will buy a plane, and go to visit my father." I don't know how to respond to her in such moments. When Nazanin goes out with me, as soon as she sees a girl of her own age holding her father, grandfather, or elder brother’s hand, she immediately grabs my hand. I asked her several times why she does that. She says, “Mom, don't leave me alone, I'm scared.” We all are afraid since this incident took place. I can’t sleep well at night and I always fear another similar incident might happen. Once again, forgive me for bothering you with my story. My sorrows are too big for them to heal.

On July 23, 2016, two suicide bombers denoted their explosives among the protesters at Dehmazang Square in Kabul, the capital city of Afghanistan. The protesters, who were primarily Hazaras, were part of the Enlightenment Movement. They were protesting against the diversion of the TUTAP mega power project which would cause the project to bypass Hazara-dominated areas. At least 84 protesters lost their lives and 260-400 others were injured. The Islamic State of Khorasan Province (ISKP), the regional branch of ISIS, took credit for the attack. However, ISKP later refuted their involvement in the attack.

The Enlightenment Movement, also known as Junbesh-e Roshnayie, was a grassroots civil disobedience movement started by Hazaras in Afghanistan in response to a change in the Fichtner GmbH & Co. KG proposed Energy Supply Improvement Investment Program, unofficially called TUTAP project plans. The change in the project plans would cause it to bypass Hazara regions. The move was seen as perpetuating long-standing anti-Hazara discrimination. Throughout 2016 and 2017, the Enlightenment Movement coordinated large-scale demonstrations against discrimination both domestically in Afghanistan and abroad.

He Was Very Sad When He Heard the Next Day’s Demonstration Was Cancelled

Narrator: Jamila Nouri (wife)

Victim: Mohammad Hassan Rahimi

Date of the incident: 23 July 2016

Location of the incident: Dehmazang, Kabul City

I am Jamila Nouri, the wife of the martyred Mohammad Hassan Rahimi. He was killed at the age of 25. He was born in the village of Gardane Nouri in the Behsud District, in Maidan Wardak Province. He lost his father when he was six-months-old. He then lived with his maternal grandfather until he was 13-years-old. He went to the Mira-zar school. I don't know exactly what level he studied up to there. Later, his uncle took him to his home in Kajab, where he lived for three years. From his uncle's house, he emigrated to Iran. There, he continued going to school. Later, his uncle sent him to Pakistan to do work, such as carpet weaving and labor, but he escaped from there, and again left for Iran. He lived there for four or five years.

He was my cousin. My mother used to worry about him, so my father looked for him, and found his contact number. He called him, and when my mother heard that he was fine, she was so relieved, she was very pleased. In 2007, he called us and asked my family for my hand in marriage. We got married in 2009. He was very kind and well-mannered. He never spoke to me in a loud voice. In Iran, since he did not have an immigration card, he had been deported twice. After the second time, he returned to Afghanistan and decided to start a new business here. We had some capital and he borrowed some money from his brother and the bank. He bought a shop in Golayi Mahtabb Qala, where his main business was metal work. After eight months of working in the shop, he called me and told me to join him in Kabul. I asked him to come and get me because I could not travel alone. This is how we came to be living in Kabul together.

He had so many dreams. One of his dreams was for his children to grow up, get educated, and be able to look after themselves and their families. Before our marriage, he was very interested in politics and used to listen to the news. He always said that if his father were alive, he could have studied and become a good politician. He had not learned basic literacy skills, yet he used to analyze political issues very well. He always participated in the Baba Mazari commemoration ceremonies and was deeply attached to his people. When the subject of electricity and the discussion of the Enlightenment Movement was raised, he told me, “It is not an ethnic issue; we should demand our rights; how long should we remain silent? Whenever I see a Hazara person in markets, they are either pushing hand carts or working as shoe polishers. Hazaras have a tiny share in government and even less in private businesses. Hazara women stay at home, and our men are day labourers.” Whenever he took part in the Enlightenment Movement meetings, he would encourage the youth and other people [to join the meetings]. One day before his death in martyrdom, we visited our aunt's house. One of my cousins had just returned from Iran. He warned that it was better not to take part in the demonstration. Mohammad Hassan was upset at this and replied, "If I stay home, and if you don’t take part in the demonstration, who will? This time, the entire nation has to join in and we have to stand up for our rights.” My aunt's family insisted we should stay at their house for the night, but my husband said we should go because he had work to do the next day. He dared not tell his mother he wanted to take part in the demonstration the next day. Even I didn't know that the next day he would join the protest.

The first time he participated, I knew nothing about it till my son saw his father on TV. When he came home that night, I asked him why he did not go to work. He said, “There was no work; none of us attended work today.” Our last house was in Resalat Alley. The night before, he had been watching television until 11:00 pm, and he had been distraught when he heard that the next day’s demonstration was cancelled. We had a talk about it. I told him, “Please don't go tomorrow.” But he told me, “Certainly, I will go to the demonstration and I will defend the rights of my people.” There were three large photos of Khalili, Mohaqeq, and Baba Mazari on our wall. I removed the pictures of the two leaders and left Baba Mazari’s image untouched.

My husband was always talking about politics. I didn't know much about politics and I can’t say I like it. I had already concluded that our leaders thought solely of their own interests and never think about their people. The night before, I had tried to insist that instead of going to the demonstration, he should go to work and think about our lives. I reminded him that our children would ask him for a loaf of bread, and the landlord would ask him for rent. “What do we have to do with a demonstration and with politics?” I asked him. “It has never benefited us!” But he said again, "I will participate."

On the day of the attack, he slept till 7:00 a.m. After he woke up, I set the breakfast table. We were having breakfast when a van passed by the street, announcing that the demonstration was not cancelled and encouraging everyone to participate. He took just a few quick bites and rushed out of the house. Then he came back in and said he had forgotten his phone. I repeated that I did not want him to go to the demonstration. He said something about having lent someone money and that he was going to go get it back so he could pay the rent. He never lied to me. But when noticed how anxious I was, he told me this to calm me down. When I felt reassured, I started doing the laundry. The TV was on, and the captions were broadcasting news about the Dehmazang attack, but I didn't notice because I was so busy working. His cousin called me and asked me where Hassan was. I said he had gone out to get his money for the rent.

I got worried and called Hassan. His phone rang, but nobody answered. Twenty minutes later, his cousin, my brother-in-law, came to the house and asked, "Is Hassan home?" I called everyone I could think of, and everyone said they had been here or there, but no one had seen Hassan. Nobody knew where he was. Whoever I called answered the phone told me where they were, in such and such place. One person said he was at work and had not taken part in the demonstration, but also, he had not seen Hassan. Until the evening, I kept calling his brother and asking him about Hassan, but he kept saying he could not find him. I could not calm down, and rang his number again. This time, a stranger answered my husband’s phone and said, “Hassan is injured and needs blood; bring him blood as soon as possible.” I immediately called his brother and told him Hassan was injured and in Ibn-Sina Hospital and needed blood. Ten minutes later, I called again to ask where they were. His brother said they were in a heavy traffic jam and were on their way to the hospital. I was so upset and besides myself with worry. So, I called his brother again. He said Hassan was not in Ibn-Sina, so they were going to see if he was in Wazir Akbar Khan Hospital.

I had a bad feeling about it and called again. This time, his brother said, “Hassan is conscious and needs blood. He will remain in the hospital tonight.” I didn't know what to do with my two little children because I didn't know any place where I could leave them. That is why I called my uncle. He said, “Wait, I'll come, and we'll go to the hospital together.” I waited for a long time, but my uncle never came for me. Then I called my brother-in-law again and said I wanted to talk to Hassan. He told me they did not allow him to speak, but he was fine. A few minutes later, he called me and said they would bring him home. I became happy again and waited expectantly. But after 20 minutes, my brother-in-law called again and said, “We will not be bringing him home. Instead, we are taking him to my uncle's house in Kampany because the roads [to your house] are in bad condition, and he is injured and will be bothered.” I told him the road to Kampany was worse than the road to our house. I got very sad when they took Hassan to his uncle's house. I told myself that he had never been away from his children and from me.

At night, his uncle’s grandson came to take my children and me to their house. I told him I would not go there; he should come home. He said Hassan was injured, could not walk, and needed to rest. My heart was bleeding. I told him: “OK, I will come there tomorrow.” The following day, when I finished the housework and was preparing to go to my uncle-in-law’s house with my children, my aunt and her children came to our house and asked about Hassan. I told her the story. After a few minutes, I called my brother-in-law and asked where they were. He said they had taken Hassan to Watan Hospital to change the dressing on his wound. I got upset again and told him I knew the hospital and would go there myself. He did not want me to go, but my mother-in-law and I insisted on going to the hospital. Then his aunt and her husband prevented us from going and told us they would bring Hassan home after the dressing was changed. In the meantime, the house gate opened, and I noticed relatives gathering in the alley. My heart trembled and I was struck dumb. I hardly managed to get to his uncle’s house, and it was there that I learned that Hassan had died.

My whole world has been destroyed. My husband never stopped caring for us. Now, look at how we are left alone forever, and with no one to look after us anymore. I have so many problems. We don’t have a house and we are helpless. I am left alone with my two little children, and there is nothing we can do but place our faith in God. How can I follow in my husband's footsteps when the government does nothing for us? The government itself is involved in killing our youth.

On July 23, 2016, two suicide bombers denoted their explosives among the protesters at Dehmazang Square in Kabul, the capital city of Afghanistan. The protesters, who were primarily Hazaras, were part of the Enlightenment Movement. They were protesting against the diversion of the TUTAP mega power project which would cause the project to bypass Hazara-dominated areas. At least 84 protesters lost their lives and 260-400 others were injured. The Islamic State of Khorasan Province (ISKP), the regional branch of ISIS, took credit for the attack. However, ISKP later refuted their involvement in the attack.

The Enlightenment Movement, also known as Junbesh-e Roshnayie, was a grassroots civil disobedience movement started by Hazaras in Afghanistan in response to a change in the Fichtner GmbH & Co. KG proposed Energy Supply Improvement Investment Program, unofficially called TUTAP project plans. The change in the project plans would cause it to bypass Hazara regions. The move was seen as perpetuating long-standing anti-Hazara discrimination. Throughout 2016 and 2017, the Enlightenment Movement coordinated large-scale demonstrations against discrimination both domestically in Afghanistan and abroad.

We Found Him with His Limbs Cut Off

Narrator: Mohammad Hashim (brother)

Victim: Sarwar Hasani

Date of the incident: 23 July 2016

Location of the incident: Dehmazang, Kabul City

My brother was 22-years-old. Sarwar had many good qualities and always treated people with good manners. He continuously cared about his studies. When we lived in Ghazni, he lived in Kabul. He was in second grade. When we moved to Kabul, he enrolled at the Abdul Rahim Shahid School. In that school, he was always top student. Since our financial situation was not good, he also worked in addition to studying. He used to make bricks at night and go to school during the day. He attended both private and public schools and studied up to 9th grade. After that he went to Iran, where he started working in a plastering and sculpture factory. He lived there for almost three years and continued plastering work before returning to Afghanistan. He was able to resume his studies and graduated from a private school. When he was martyred, the Tajiks and Pashtuns also wept for him because he was kind to everyone, and his family and people were very appreciative of Sarwar. He worked in Shamali because our finances were bad. One day before the incident, he was in Shamali. At night, he learned through Facebook that there was a demonstration planned on Saturday. He told us he wanted to participate. We told him, "Why are you going to participate in this demonstration?" He said, “No, my friends called me to be with them tomorrow.” He didn't listen to us. The next day, he went to Dehmazang with his friends. We called him at lunchtime and told him to come home and have lunch. He said he was in Dehmazang and was not coming home. Then, his phone was switched off and we could not contact him anymore. When we learned about the incident, we searched all the hospitals. After four days and nights, we found him in the 400-bed hospital. We found him with his limbs cut off. What I remember about those moments is that he had suffered so much. He was martyred in a such a very sad way, and he left us alone.

On July 23, 2016, two suicide bombers denoted their explosives among the protesters at Dehmazang Square in Kabul, the capital city of Afghanistan. The protesters, who were primarily Hazaras, were part of the Enlightenment Movement. They were protesting against the diversion of the TUTAP mega power project which would cause the project to bypass Hazara-dominated areas. At least 84 protesters lost their lives and 260-400 others were injured. The Islamic State of Khorasan Province (ISKP), the regional branch of ISIS, took credit for the attack. However, ISKP later refuted their involvement in the attack.

The Enlightenment Movement, also known as Junbesh-e Roshnayie, was a grassroots civil disobedience movement started by Hazaras in Afghanistan in response to a change in the Fichtner GmbH & Co. KG proposed Energy Supply Improvement Investment Program, unofficially called TUTAP project plans. The change in the project plans would cause it to bypass Hazara regions. The move was seen as perpetuating long-standing anti-Hazara discrimination. Throughout 2016 and 2017, the Enlightenment Movement coordinated large-scale demonstrations against discrimination both domestically in Afghanistan and abroad.

I Will Never Stop Calling out for Justice

Narrator: Hamidullah (brother)

Victim: Shafiqullah Zamani

Date of the incident: 23 July 2016

Location of the incident: Dehmazang, Kabul City

Shafiqullah was born in 1997 in the Zimni Village of Daimirdad, in Maidan Wardak Province. Our father passed away when he was one and a half years old. My mother is my father’s second wife. My father had nine children: five sons from his first wife and four children from his second wife, my mother. My older brother and my mother became our guardians when my father died. My older brother tried very hard to help us progress since we were children and he never treated us like stepbrothers. He enrolled us in the Hazrat Abu Bakr Siddiq School in our neighbourhood.

Shafiquallah attended this school until 9th grade. He then enrolled in the Zeivalat High School in Maidan Wardak Province, where he completed his 10th grade. We moved to Kabul 5 years ago [in 2011]. I don’t remember that much about my brother’s childhood. After resettling in Kabul, we were enrolled in the Abdul Rahim Shahid School. Shafiqullah, and it was from this school that we graduated. After passing the university entrance exam and getting 330 marks, my brother started his studies at the computer science department of Kabul University. He was in his second year of university when he died. He studied hard and got good grades.

Although he had taken part in the first demonstration, my brother was not intending to go to the July 23rd demonstration as he had university exams. My eldest brother had called Shafiqullah and asked him not to go to Dehmazang. Because of his upcoming exam, he was at home studying in a separate room when he got a call telling him the exam was being held today. He immediately took a shower and rushed to the university. After taking the exam, he called some of his friends to say they too should come and join the demonstration to support justice and the rights of our oppressed people.

One of his close friends was Asadullah Hossaini, and they went to Dehmazang together. Some of his other friends were also wounded. Shafiqullah was a very peaceful, kind, faithful, and diligent boy. He respected everyone at home and everybody loved him. He always got excellent grades in university and at educational centres. His GPA was 92 [out of 100]. He sometimes made and sold beehives with my other brother, just to fund his education. When he was a teenager, he always said: “We must be mindful of changing our future and should try to defend our citizenship rights.” He was martyred as he struggled to defend the rights of his people. He often told my mother she should not cry if ever he was killed. “I will never stop calling out for justice,” he said.

When he and my other brother had taken part in the previous demonstration, I had not been able to join them since I was in Maidan Wardak Province at the time. Through the Movement’s announcements on social media, Shafiqullah heard that the rally the next day was not cancelled, but my other brother was against him taking part in the event. That morning, his classmate called to tell Shafiqullah that the demonstration had been cancelled and the exam would be held. Shafiqullah took a shower and told my brother: “Stay at home today and don’t go anywhere.” After the exam, his friends and classmates called and asked him not to participate in the demonstration. He replied that he would go to Dehmazang and join in the march to support his oppressed community and raise his voice for justice. He called his friends ‘quitters’ for not being prepared to get involved in the protest. “You have been silent for years and have failed to stand up for your rights. I will go to Dehmazang, raise my voice and demand my rights,” he told them. During lunchtime, some of his friends asked him to take a break and have lunch with them. He told them he would stay there until the protest ended.

Our financial situation now is not good. We rent a house with a single room and a kitchen for 2,500 Afghanis per month. We have had to live in this house for five years. I was able to get an excellent job so I could in part support the family. Our household running expenses are provided by my eldest brother, who lives separately. After the incident of the Enlightenment Movement, Mohaqeq Kabuli gave us 50,000 Afghanis. Nobody else has helped us since then. I wanted to visit the Provincial Governor’s office to get the martyrs and disabled ID card. But since the Movement has promised to get this card for all the families of victims of July 23rd, my brother did not allow me to go and ask for it myself.

Shafiqullah was closer to Hafizullah because of their small age gap. They spent most of their time together and attended courses together. He was very interested in sports, but after we moved to Kabul, he didn’t participate in any sports club activities for about a year because of the intensive preparing for exams. After that year, both of us were getting training together. He would go to the club most nights, unless he had work or a wedding party. Otherwise, he would train regularly. Also, he always performed his prayers on time. He used to get up early and after praying, would eat breakfast and then study or do some computer work before going to the university. When he returned from university, he would always engage in some work. He hated being idle. He didn’t take a class to prepare for the entrance exam, but instead studied at home. It was thanks to working so hard that he was finally accepted as a student in Computer Science at Kabul University.

Before the July 23rd attack, I was selected as a teacher in Maidan Wardak Province, where I had started working. During the holidays I would come back home and everyone, especially Shafiqullah, were always pleased to see me and would joke with me. A few days before the incident, I wanted to return home because I missed my family members. I wanted to depart for Kabul, but my busy teaching schedule did not allow me to, and I postponed my travel to the weekend. I was unaware of Saturday’s demonstration and was in class teaching when my cousin called and said an explosion had happened in Dehmazang. I asked him if everyone was okay. He too was unaware, and told me that everyone was okay. A few moments later, my uncle, who works in Sia Pitab of Maidan Wardak, called and said, “Do you know what has happened in Kabul? They say there has been an explosion in Dehmazang. Is everybody at home, okay?”

I didn’t understand my uncle’s questions at that moment. Later, I found out that he had heard about my brother’s injury and wanted to see if I knew about it or not. I told him, “Thanks to God, everyone is fine.” After I hung up the phone, I got worried and wondered why both my cousin and uncle would call. When I called home, the phone line was busy. I became even more concerned. I thought there must have been an accident, otherwise why would they ring me, knowing I was teaching class at this time of day? I checked my phone credit balance. It was low. So I dismissed my students, immediately went home, and called my mother using the home phone, but she didn’t pick up. I called several times until my brother answered the phone. He didn’t say anything at first, but he sounded hoarse. After I insisted, he finally said that Shafiqullah was injured and was in the hospital. He said, “My mother’s phone is with me, and I am on my way to the hospital to see Shafiqullah. Do not call home because our mother does not know.” I became alarmed and turned on the TV. Most TV channels were airing the Dehmazang incident. My elder brother was at home, and my other brothers were in La’al District for beekeeping. It was 5 p.m., and I got impatient and went on the road to find a vehicle. I called my cousin and he said he would wait for me in Kote-Sangi. A car came immediately. On the way, I called my uncle and asked about my brother’s condition, but he said something different each time, making me more worried. I called my cousin several more times, but he did not answer his phone. When I arrived in Kote-Sangi, my other uncle called me: “Come home and don’t go to the hospital.” I said I was going to the hospital to see Shafiqullah, but he insisted we see him together. I hung up the phone. A few minutes later, my cousin called and wanted me to go home. I asked him about Shafiqullah and told him angrily, “Shafiqullah is in hospital. Do you expect me to come home in this condition?” With a lump in his throat and a shaky voice, he said, “Shafiqullah is dead and his body is now at home.” I couldn’t comprehend what was happening. I paid the taxi fare in a disoriented state. I could not even feel my movements. Looking at my terrible condition, the driver asked several times what had happened. I could not understand what he was saying, and although the driver called me and said he would give me a ride to my address, I got out and was walking. I later got into another car and headed for home. When I got there, they had bathed Shafiqullah and were waiting for me. After bathing him, we took him to Maidan Wardak and buried him.

Shafiqullah’s mother:

My son was a man of faith, kind, compassionate, and intelligent. He performed his prayers on time and observed fasting. I am totally satisfied with him. When he was a child, he always made a toy car and played with it. He became interested in computer science when he was a teenager. He constantly stood up for the rights of his people. I remember well, 50 days ago, I was sitting in this same corridor, and he was reading a book. He approached, put his knee close to mine, and said, “If I open my heart to you, would you not be upset or offended?” In response, I said I wouldn’t be upset if it were not wrong. He said, “Mother, if one day, I am killed, and my body is brought home, please don’t lose hope; be strong. You have watched the Mokhtar tv series. Learn patience from Wahab’s mother, and don’t whimper.” He always joked with me and said education did not benefit him, so he would better join the national army. The incidents that were happening in Maidan Wardak Province upset him. Taliban were setting fire to police check posts, and many of our people were killed. That’s why he would say he should enroll in the army and help his people. Listening to him, I was worried and would advise him that he was still a teenager and should think about his studies and his life, not about those issues.

My eldest son was not at home on the day of the incident, and the other two sons had an exam. The night before the demonstration of July 23rd, there was an announcement that it had been cancelled. Shafiqullah was busy on his phone by the wall in the front yard. I didn’t know what he was discussing. His brother lighted the heater to heat the water for a bath. When the water was heated, Shafiqullah called his brother, asking him to put more water on the heater. His brother said, “There is enough hot water! Go and take a bath first, and I will be next.” One of his classmates called him to say exams was not cancelled after all, and that he should go to the university that same day to take the exam. Shafiqullah hurriedly went to the bathroom and shouted, “Mother, which clothes should I wear?” I told him I washed and ironed his blue clothes for him to wear. He came to me and said, “I took my university card, taxi fare, and mobile phone. Do you think I have forgotten anything?” I said with a laugh, “You know better than me what you need.” He went down the stairs but came up again and said, “Mother, let me tell you the truth; I have no passion for this world and I feel that the world has become small and ugly.” I became angry and asked what had made him say that so early in his youth. “You don’t hang out with people, and if you stay at home, you are busy studying and reading from dawn to dusk. That’s why you think about these pointless matters,” I told him. He responded, “Mother, I am not withdrawn. I always try to interact with people, but I don’t know why, I don’t like this world.” He said goodbye to me and left the house.

On other days, because of security concerns, I would frequently call his phone to know when he would come home and where he was. I didn’t call him that day because a few days before the incident, when he came home, he angrily said, “Mother, please don’t call me every moment; it is embarrassing for me to answer your call, looking like a kid in front of my friends. They sometimes make fun of me. They say nobody would ask about them if they don’t go home for a week, but you call me every minute and ask me where I am.” So on that day, I didn’t make a call until 2 pm. My other son returned home after taking his exam. I asked him to call Shafiqullah. He did but Shafiqullah did not answer the calls. The TV was on and I changed the channel. They were broadcasting the news of the explosion in Dehmazang. I became distraught and told his brother to go to the university immediately to discover Shafiqullah’s whereabouts. My son said the university was probably closed. I didn’t know about Shafiqullah being involved in the demonstration. I insisted he should go to the university, but my son made some excuse saying he would not find him at the university. I said that in that case, I would go there alone. He stopped me, and went out to look for Shafiqullah.

Somewhere around Pul-e-Sokhta, he called Shafiqullah’s number and a doctor picked up the phone. Before letting the doctor speak, he angrily asked why he had not answered his phone earlier. “I have called you ten times since morning. My mother is worried about you and after all this time, you answer the phone and take it lightly,” he had said. However, the person holding the phone was not Shafiqullah but a doctor. In response to Hafizullah, my son, he had said, “I am not Shafiqullah; I am a doctor at the 400-bed Hospital. Your brother is injured and is now in the hospital. Please don’t call this number. I’ll turn off his phone, you should come to the hospital.”

Hafizullah immediately called his uncles and told them about Shafiqullah’s injury, so they went to the hospital too. I wandered about in the front yard, asking myself where my son was and why he was not answering my calls. I was agitated and didn’t know what to do. I lost patience and I went to my brother’s house. When I got there, I found everyone distraught; no one was talking. I immediately called my nephew. It took some time before he answered the call. I asked him where he was and whether he knew about Shafiqullah. He said he was injured and was in the operating theatre. I left the house and saw my nephew’s brother-in-law waiting for me in his car by the side of the road. I got in the car. There was a heavy traffic jam near Kote-Sangi, and the traffic police had stopped the vehicles. We begged them to let us pass and moved on through Gardana-e Baghbala. There, too, the traffic police were not allowing vehicles to pass. I cried a lot and they finally allowed us to pass.

I searched all the rooms in the Wazir Akbar Khan Hospital to find my son, but he was not there. We went to the 400-bed Hospital and I saw my other nephew there. As soon as he saw me, he cried, “Auntie, we lost Shafiqullah.” I went through the most painful moment. Crying and lamenting, we took his body home. His friends were very sad when they came to our house. They said, “Once we had taken the exam, eight of us headed towards Dehmazang. Shafiqullah was the group leader, chanting slogans. As soon as we reached Dehmazang, the explosion happened.” My son died young and did not achieve his dreams. His struggles to build himself a life were all in vain.

Hafizullah, brother of the martyr:

Shafiqullah was born and grew up in Maidan Wardak Province. The oppression against our community always exasperated him. He needed to improve his English and was attending a course. He asked for my advice in choosing a field of study. I told him to study any field he was interested in. He chose Computer Science. He studied hard and always obtained good grades.

Ali Asghar Haidari, the martyr’s cousin:

Nowadays, life is tough, and work is not easily accessible. Shafiqullah’s family has also lost their father, and the elder brothers have to provide for all household expenses. Shafiqullah came to my house the night before the demonstration. That night, we bought a sheep for a vow. Unfortunately, there was no butcher, so he and my elder brother slaughtered the sheep. The work started at 4:30 pm and was finished by sunset. We distributed the meat among the people. Later, I heard Shafiqullah say, “I wish my uncle had cooked some of the meat and invited some close friends and relatives so that we could sit together and chat.” I regret it now so much. I wish Shafiqullah had tasted the meat. I wish we had listened to him because the demonstration happened the next day, and everybody would have been too busy to cook him some meat. Well, sometimes it’s too late to regret.

I participated in the previous demonstration. I am a civil engineer, and unfortunately, this time I had too much work to do. The night before, it was announced that the protest had been cancelled. I took care of my work. I only found out via Facebook that there was a demonstration in Dehmazang after all. Many of our people were there, taking part. When the explosion happened, again I found out through Facebook. I immediately called my sister’s home and asked if anyone from the family had gone to Dehmazang. She said that only Shafiqullah was there. I immediately called his number, but there was no answer. I called again, but it didn’t work at all. I told myself he must be injured and someone else might answer his phone. I called a few more times. Finally, a doctor picked up his phone and said the owner of the phone was slightly injured and was in the 400-bed Hospital. He asked how I was related to the wounded. I said I was his cousin.

I left the office and called my brother and some friends to go to the hospital, but the roads were closed. With great difficulty, we reached the hospital through Gardane Bagh Bala. The police were present at every intersection and did not allow anyone to pass; all roads to the city centre were blocked with containers. At the hospital, only one person was allowed to go in, so my elder brother went in and searched all the rooms but did not find him. We kept calling him and asking about Shafiq’s condition, but every time he said he had not found him yet. Finally, they said that General Murad Ali Murad had come to visit the wounded, and nobody was allowed to go in. The list of the injured was not yet available. Our phones were constantly busy; either his mother was calling, or friends and relatives were asking about Shafiqullah.

Finally, having given up hope of finding him among the wounded in the wards, my brother went to the morgue. There he found Shafiqullah’s body. I was apprehensive, so I started quarrelling and went inside the hospital, right into the cold room. There were the bodies of some of the martyrs who had been seriously injured and even torn to pieces. I saw Shafiqullah. Shrapnel had hit him in the chest and head. His feet were burnt. His university card was placed on his chest. At 4:30 in the evening, I talked to the hospital authorities. They told me they would give us an ambulance to carry the body. I spoke to Shafiqullah’s brothers and asked where they would bury Shafiqullah. They said they would bury him in Maidan Wardak Province. It was better to leave him in the hospital for the night to prevent his body from decomposing.

His mother was restless and called several times. I didn’t dare tell her about Shafiqullah’s martyrdom. Every time she called, I said he was simply injured and that they would not allow anyone to meet him. But I told myself it was not good to deprive his mother of seeing her martyred son. I called his brothers again and said that we would bring the body home so at least their mother’s heart is calmed and she gets the chance to pray for him and recite Holy Quran. We asked the hospital for an ambulance, but they said they were not allowed to give the ambulance to the families for an entire day because it belonged to the government and was meant for transporting and helping the wounded. But they allowed us to use it for transporting Shafiqullah’s body home. With great difficulty, we took him home. The roads were closed so to avoid the body decomposing, we got coolers and fans from friends’ houses and placed the martyr’s body in front of them to keep it cold. In the morning, after bathing him, we transferred him and buried him in Maidan Province.

On July 23, 2016, two suicide bombers denoted their explosives among the protesters at Dehmazang Square in Kabul, the capital city of Afghanistan. The protesters, who were primarily Hazaras, were part of the Enlightenment Movement. They were protesting against the diversion of the TUTAP mega power project which would cause the project to bypass Hazara-dominated areas. At least 84 protesters lost their lives and 260-400 others were injured. The Islamic State of Khorasan Province (ISKP), the regional branch of ISIS, took credit for the attack. However, ISKP later refuted their involvement in the attack.

The Enlightenment Movement, also known as Junbesh-e Roshnayie, was a grassroots civil disobedience movement started by Hazaras in Afghanistan in response to a change in the Fichtner GmbH & Co. KG proposed Energy Supply Improvement Investment Program, unofficially called TUTAP project plans. The change in the project plans would cause it to bypass Hazara regions. The move was seen as perpetuating long-standing anti-Hazara discrimination. Throughout 2016 and 2017, the Enlightenment Movement coordinated large-scale demonstrations against discrimination both domestically in Afghanistan and abroad.

A Few Minutes Later, They Brought in His Coffin

Narrator: Sakina (sister)

Victim: Navidullah Bahadori

Date of the incident: 23 July 2016

Location of the incident: Dehmazang, Kabul City

My brother Navidullah attended school until 6th grade in the village of Bidshaki, in Ghazni Province, Jighato District. We then moved to Kabul, where he enrolled in the Abdul Rahim Shahid School. Besides school, he worked as a tailor’s apprentice. He was well-mannered and everyone liked him. He was sociable and friendly. Following graduation from 12th grade, he took an exam at the Afghan Korea University, where he took computer classes for six months. Later, he started learning dental prosthetics at the Razi Institute. On the morning of the incident, he was at home and had breakfast at 8 am. He intended to join in the demonstration, but my mother forbade him, citing the dire security situation and a possible incident. On that day, all my cousins went to the university to take an exam.

Around noon, he took a shower, changed his clothes, and ate lunch. He told us he wanted to go to university, but we all knew the university was closed in the afternoon, and that he intended to go and participate in the demonstration. At approximately 2:36 pm, when the second explosion occurred, my cousin called him to ask where he was. Someone else answered his phone and asked my cousin how he was related to the owner of the phone. He responded, “I am his cousin.” The man had told him that Navid was injured and my cousin had to get to Aliabad hospital immediately. My brother was alive until he was taken to the hospital but while being transferred to the emergency room, he died. My cousins searched all the hospitals and checked all the wounded but did not find him among them. Since the wounded had been transferred from Aliabad hospital to other hospitals, and because we thought he was only wounded, we continued searching the Barchi and Darul-Aman hospitals until midnight. Still, we did not find him among the injured. My father and cousins visited the 400-bed hospital the next day (day after the incident). When they got there, they saw his photo installed on the entrance gate of the hospital, and thus they recognized and found him.

They called home to say they found Navid. We were all delighted and told ourselves, as the man had reported, Navid had been taken to the hospital. Maybe his hand was severely injured or amputated, but thank God, he was alive. We went to my mother to give her the good news, but a while later, they brought in his coffin. Navid was no longer alive and this left my mother and me alone with a world of sorrow and yearning. Since Navid’s martyrdom/death, my mother is always sick. She cries in solitude and has lost her tranquility. We also cry in the other room at night, so my mother does not see our sadness. Navid, my brother, always encouraged us to get an education. When he returned home from work and school, he would always read and help us do our assignments until late into the night. Now, his absence is intensely felt. I always miss him and will never forget memories of him.

On July 23, 2016, two suicide bombers denoted their explosives among the protesters at Dehmazang Square in Kabul, the capital city of Afghanistan. The protesters, who were primarily Hazaras, were part of the Enlightenment Movement. They were protesting against the diversion of the TUTAP mega power project which would cause the project to bypass Hazara-dominated areas. At least 84 protesters lost their lives and 260-400 others were injured. The Islamic State of Khorasan Province (ISKP), the regional branch of ISIS, took credit for the attack. However, ISKP later refuted their involvement in the attack.

The Enlightenment Movement, also known as Junbesh-e Roshnayie, was a grassroots civil disobedience movement started by Hazaras in Afghanistan in response to a change in the Fichtner GmbH & Co. KG proposed Energy Supply Improvement Investment Program, unofficially called TUTAP project plans. The change in the project plans would cause it to bypass Hazara regions. The move was seen as perpetuating long-standing anti-Hazara discrimination. Throughout 2016 and 2017, the Enlightenment Movement coordinated large-scale demonstrations against discrimination both domestically in Afghanistan and abroad.

He wishes the people of our district make progress

Narrator: Iqbal Ali (Father)

Victim: Aref Hussain Shaygan

Date of the incident: 23 July 2016

Location of the incident: Dehmazang, Kabul City

In the name of God, the most Merciful, the most Compassionate, I am Iqbal Ali from the Pato area in the district of Jaghori, in the province of Ghazni. My son was born on Thursday night, January 1, 1991. According to the traditions in that area, they sweeten the newborn’s mouth with honey and Mohr (clay tablet) from Karbala. When the ceremony for sweetening the newborn’s mouth was over, the mullah came to our home and named him and called Adhan to his ear. I named my son Aref Hussain. He grew up day by day till he reached the age of four. In our area, there was no such thing as books to teach children with. There was only one single book, Qaida Baghdadi, taught to children. It may sound unbelievable, but one day when he was aged 4, Aref Hussain held this book under his arm and said to me: “Daddy, I go to school.” I was very surprised and said, “My good son, you have just learned how to utter complete sentences. How can you go to school?” He just replied, “It’s ok. I go to school." He was small and could not speak properly yet.

He went to school that fall. While the other boys would finish Panj Surahs in four or five months, Aref Hussain finished it in the three months of winter. What interested us all the most was his discipline. He didn’t tear a single page in the book. There were no government schools in our area and so until the age of seven, my son was taught by the mullahs at a religious school. He was very intelligent and if I had sent him to Iran or any other country to pursue his studies, by the age of 20 he could have reached the level of an Ijtihad [a jurist with the mental ability to find solution to complex legal questions].

When he turned seven, a government school opened in our area and he was admitted to second grade. I told him: “My son, I myself wanted you to become a good mullah because well-educated and knowledgeable mullahs are rare in our area.” He responded, “Father, I don’t like mullahs or want to become a mullah.” He continued school until twelfth grade and was always the top student in his class and in the school. When he was in seventh grade, he was a good reciter of the Quran in the Pato area and could recite Quran in Qari Abdul Basit style of recitation. He would be asked to moderate at various venues and was often asked to open the event with one of his recitation of the Quran.

As a child, he had a good character, so much so that he was known among local people for this quality of his. Whenever a child was born, they would come to our house and ask Aref Hussain to sweeten the newborn’s mouth so that the child would grow up to be as graceful and good as Aref Hussain. It is a tradition in our area to shave boys’ hair when they turn 6 or 7. When they shaved the boys’ hair, they would put Aref Hussain’s hat on their heads so they could all grow up as smart as him. Even from his early childhood, Aref attracted everyone due to his fine character and intelligence. He would never upset his family or others. Both men and women in Pato loved him. He was a pious and godly boy. My son studied in the Pato School till fifth grade and then enrolled in the Ustad Sharifi School in the Hutqul area. He participated fully in his classes and always achieved top marks. Every year, he would receive about 40 or 50 awards from teachers and friends. He came back to Pato for eleventh grade. When he returned, he started up some social and civil activities. He would always say he wanted the people in our district to make progress and achieve greater success. He began raising funds to establish a library in the Sang-e Masha area. Once he had the building constructed for a library, he visited mullahs and teachers in the area to ask them to donate any books they might have available at home. He told them it was a good thing to share their books so everyone could have access to them. Now the library he built is still the biggest in Jaghori. He would always encourage children to study and read. He would tell them that if they wanted to progress in life, they should read voraciously and pay serious attention to their lessons. After he graduated from high school, he passed the kankor [national university entry exam] and was admitted to study Economics at Herat University.

He studied diligently in Herat for four years. After graduating from university, he went to Kabul and lived in the Pul-e Sokhta area for two months. For four years, I had not been able to send even one Afghani to my son. Herat [University] didn’t have any dormitories and my son’s accommodation was not suitable for him, so he paid his own expenses with the help of his friends from the Hutqul area who had fled to Europe. I asked my son to come home to celebrate his graduation, but he would not come until he had found a job so that he could help us financially. He told me that he would not come home until he found a good job, since our economic situation was not good. During the two months he was in Kabul, he couldn’t find any work, and had decided to come back home. In Hutqul, his friends gathered in five or six cars, celebrating his graduation. They gave him flowers and paraded him home. He gave everyone time and attention, and thanked us with these words: “I do not want to take much of your time. Thank you for caring about me and profuse thanks also to my father who brought me to this point and worked hard for me. I won’t forget your support while I was far from home and will do everything in my capacity to serve you.”

Aref had been away from home a lot. He had spent his life moving, from school to graduating from university. Yet he remained jobless in Kabul for almost one year until he was hired by the Ministry of Justice, in the public management department. He came home for three days, then said he couldn’t stay home any longer with us as he would be marked absent in his office. He continued to strive, taking an exam for a scholarship offered by the Indian government. He was accepted to a program in computer science and was supposed to travel there to pursue his education.

Aref had an impact on the whole village. When sometimes there was a dispute among villagers over land or other issues in our area, and the dispute would linger on, Aref’s behaviour towards them would always remain friendly and considerate. That is why he was loved by so many, why all the people of the area loved him. I had trained my children not to speak ill of someone to someone else. I remember, for example, I had an altercation one day with one of my acquaintances and this man cursed me. I went home that night and related the incident to Aref Hussain. He told me: “Father, these words do not heal any pain and do not bring you any benefits, because the man is at his home.” His words were beautiful and soothing for me. My son was right. I should not have gotten angry at bygone words from my acquaintance.

But God took him back from us on July 23, 2016, and now he rests under the soil with all his dreams. Whenever he called us, we would chat to one another, and I would tell him: “You are my only child and all I have and I have no hope but in God.” He would sometimes complain about life and wished he could travel to another country so our financial situation could improve. But I would always comfort him and say he should remember that great men and scientists who had achieved their goals did so through hardship and difficulties, and that he too would achieve his dreams. Because I am his father, I perhaps praise my son too much, but you can ask our friends and neighbours.

On that Saturday night, two people came to our house and said they needed a word with me. I thought there had been a dispute in the village and that I would be asked to mediate. One of them said that there had been an explosion in Kabul the day before and that Aref’s leg had been broken. I had never heard such bad and heart-wrenching news in my life. Suddenly, I was engulfed by a terrible feeling as I suspected that something much more serious had happened.

We left for Kabul at 2 pm. Before that incident, I used to love Kabul, and my son was also happy there. The people of Kabul were lovely. When I arrived in Kabul this time, our friends there told me that Aref Hussain had passed away. Some of the brothers said that for the unity and memory of martyrs, it was better to bury him on Martyrs Hill in Kabul. I said that in 1980, one of my brothers was martyred by the Russians between “Shahjoy” and “Janda” and was buried there, but the exact location of his grave was never known. Therefore, we buried Aref’s body in Jaghori. I have kept my son’s writings and I can bring them for you. There might be more than one hundred pages.

After some time, I received a call from Junbesh Roshanai and the Ministry of Justice to go to Kabul in person. I responded to them that Aref was well-liked in Kabul, and why should I have to go to Kabul? I had an Aref Hussain in Kabul who was my only hope in Kabul, and I no longer wanted to go as I had no good memory of the place.

Then I thought to myself that this tragedy had not happened only to me. For the sake of justice and rights, since some 80 to 84 people had been martyred and my son was just one of them; I should go. I remembered the Movement’s motto, saying that this demonstration was not an ethnic issue. Rather, it belonged to all the people of Afghanistan and was for the sake of justice.

Then Dr. Sharif called me and said that in order to honour the memory of the martyrs of Junbesh Roshanai and keep their names alive, an event would be held in Kabul. The event was intended to raise the voices of the martyrs and their families, for all the world to hear. I then left Jaghori to go and join other friends and commemorate all the martyrs.

After the incident, I had locked myself up in the house for three months and lost all hope in the entire world. I still talk to myself when I walk down the street and say to myself that my son walked on this path and his youth and memories are still alive. When I went to the Ministry of Justice, I found Aref’s chair empty and sat on his chair to soothe my heart, but my heart’s peace was lost by the martyrdom of Aref Hussain.

But I will follow his path and will not allow his blood to be trampled.

On July 23, 2016, two suicide bombers denoted their explosives among the protesters at Dehmazang Square in Kabul, the capital city of Afghanistan. The protesters, who were primarily Hazaras, were part of the Enlightenment Movement. They were protesting against the diversion of the TUTAP mega power project which would cause the project to bypass Hazara-dominated areas. At least 84 protesters lost their lives and 260-400 others were injured. The Islamic State of Khorasan Province (ISKP), the regional branch of ISIS, took credit for the attack. However, ISKP later refuted their involvement in the attack.

The Enlightenment Movement, also known as Junbesh-e Roshnayie, was a grassroots civil disobedience movement started by Hazaras in Afghanistan in response to a change in the Fichtner GmbH & Co. KG proposed Energy Supply Improvement Investment Program, unofficially called TUTAP project plans. The change in the project plans would cause it to bypass Hazara regions. The move was seen as perpetuating long-standing anti-Hazara discrimination. Throughout 2016 and 2017, the Enlightenment Movement coordinated large-scale demonstrations against discrimination both domestically in Afghanistan and abroad.

He Was Martyred for Justice

Narrator: Salman Hassanzada (father)

Victim: Nawroz Ali Hassanzada

Date of the incident: 23 July 2016

Location of the incident: Dehmazang, Kabul City

We are from the province of Ghazni, in the district of Malistan. Nawroz was born in the village of Boghra, in Malistan and went to Shahid Basir High School up to 5th grade. He was a very decent and sociable boy who always helped me look after livestock and was interested in keeping sheep and cattle. We lived there for a long time. One time, he came to Kabul with his auntie and when he returned to Ghazni, he told me: “Father, let's move to Kabul.” I asked him why should we go to Kabul, as our livestock, our land, and our life’s work are all right here. He said: “No, dad. Kabul is good. The schools have better facilities, they teach better, and many people live there.” I listened to him, and then we moved to Kabul. Initially, I wanted to enroll him in the Sayyed al-Shohda School, located at the edge of Kabul’s Barchi neighborhood, but they said I had to present his school records, which I did not have. I then tried the Abdul Rahim Shahid School but they too required school records. With great difficulty and a lot of going back and forth, I finally managed to enroll [my children] in this [Sayyed al-Shohda] school. Later, we moved to the town of Omid Sabz.

There was another school there, and this time I got their school records from Sayed al-Shohda School, and they started attending their new school. My son completed 12th grade at Suria High School, and after school, he went to work in a barbershop. He gave the money he earned from there to poor people. He would not give us a penny. In the month of Muharram, he gave out tea and milk at a roadside tea stall, donating all the money he had earned to the poor.

Together with my oldest son, I took part in the Tabassom demonstration. I did not allow Nawroz to come with us, but he secretly joined the Tabassom demonstration anyway, without telling us, and on the pretext of going to his aunt's house. Even his mother believed he did not go to the rally, but went instead to his aunt's house. Later, I saw him climbing the Arg [presidential palace] wall. I was near the main gate and cried out to him, "What are you doing here?" He said, “Dad! The entire people have gathered. We must demand our rights, the rights of an oppressed people. It is right that I am taking part.” I told him to come down from the Arg gate and told him he had no business being up there. He said, “Dad! There are many more people on this side of the wall. Come and see for yourself!” I told him I could not go up there, and he had to get down quickly, or a soldier could fire a bullet. There was a soldier present who was an acquaintance; we lived in the same town. Unfortunately, he was martyred in the Pole-Mahmoud Khan incident. He told Nawroz not to move forward, and to get down immediately. But Nawroz told the police, “There may be 20 bullets in the magazine of your weapon, but you can't hit all of us. Look at the crowd of people! How many people will you hit? You can't hit all of us.” The soldier asked him what he should do then. Nawroz told him to throw his gun into the garden of the Arg and go inside with all the people. He listened to Nawroz, threw his weapon into the park, and went inside the Arg with the people.

Nawroz was brave and took the lead in everything. I was not there for the 23rd of July demonstration. Before going to the rally, he had asked my sister's grandson, a university student, what it looked like in the grave. He had informed him. Nawroz had asked again whether it was dark or light inside the tomb. This young man told him, it gets dark when they throw dirt on a person. In the morning, before going to the demonstration, he had taken a bath and had put on a white cloth. Before his death, he told a girl, who is an engineer, that he had bought an extra battery for his cell phone and if he died, she should connect the mobile phone to a charger with a long wire and put it in his grave for lighting because he is afraid of the dark. The girl had asked him why he was making such crazy and absurd statements; no one had ever done anything like that. He said that if no one else had done that before, then he would do it because he was afraid of the dark and wanted his grave to be in a high place [with lots of light].

On the same day, as he was leaving the house, he had called a little girl, Maleka, to come outside. Her sister had asked what his question was. He had said to her, “I was sick for about five days in the month of Ramadan, and I broke my fast. Please observe those days of fasting on my behalf.” Maleka got angry and asked him why he would not recompense the days himself, since he was still alive, and since nobody else may observe a fast on behalf of a living person.

On the day of the incident, when the explosion happened, I called his phone three times, and it rang. When I called him for the fourth time, it did not even ring. I called my eldest son and told him that I had called Nawroz's phone three times, and that the fourth time it did not even ring. I asked him if he was at the scene. He said he was only fifteen steps away from the place, but the police would not allow anyone to get through. I told him there were no police there earlier, and asked, “Where did they come from?” He told me, “At first, there were no police, but now there are so many of them here, and they are not allowing anyone to enter that area. They tell us, 'If you want the bodies of the martyrs and the wounded, we have sent them to Ibn-e Sina, 400-beds, Aliabad, and Esteqlal hospitals.' No one is allowed to get through.”

My eldest son came home late at night and his mother asked him where Nawroz was. He answered how could he have found him among such a crowd. According to him, he had searched a lot and asked many people about Nawroz, but had not found him. He was asked where was his motorcycle. He said it was either lost or destroyed in the explosion. Then my son-in-law, Haji Yaqoub, who had a car, and other relatives of ours started searching for Nawroz. At first, no one knew whether he was martyred or injured, or not. Someone from Qarabagh in Ghazni, a very good person and acquaintance of ours, had a car, and visited some places and eventually found him. He didn't tell us right away that he [Nawroz] was martyred so that his mother wouldn't find out and lose heart. He had told the family that he was wounded, that was all. We visited several hospitals, but he did not reveal to us what had happened to him, because he knew everyone's mental state would deteriorate.

When we were all in the hospital, one of my daughters was in floods of tears. A nurse came and asked her why she was so upset, and my daughter told her that her young brother had disappeared in the Dehmazang incident, and so far we had not been able to find him. The nurse said the names of the wounded and of martyrs was posted on the wall, and suggested we should check the list. She reviewed the list, but Nawroz’s name was not listed. As my daughter scrolled down her screen and looked at photos of Nawroz on her phone, an older man noticed Nawroz’s photo. He asked my daughter to show him the picture and wanted to know how she was related to “the boy.” She had told him he was her brother. He had asked if he was martyred. My daughter answered that he was lost and we had not yet been able to find him. The old man told my daughter, “I saw him in this hospital. His hand was tied to his neck. When I saw him, he was breathing, but had many deep wounds. He was wounded by the shrapnel and was breathing hard. You had better ask the hospital.”

We began searching immediately. We went all around the 400-bed hospital to almost every department, but he was not there. Someone said they took him to Ibn-e Sina Hospital, and another person said that martyrs were not brought to Ibn-e Sina but to the 400-bed hospital. We had not yet visited the emergency department of the 400-bed hospital. When we went there, they had placed several containers in the place, and some soldiers assigned there allowed us to search them. Inside the containers were many bodies, and it was not easy to recognize my son. The bodies were severely damaged. Some were missing arms, some had their legs amputated, and others had their sides severely damaged. The corpses were full of blood.

We searched four containers, and finally, Dr. Shahjan, a member of Parliament from Qarabagh, Ghazni, found my son’s body in the fifth container. When my brother and eldest son saw Nawroz, they did not believe it was him because the martyr's face was covered in blood. He had been close to the vehicle and to where the explosion was, and the wound had mainly damaged his back. Dr. Shahjan suggested to my brother and my eldest son that if they wanted to take him to Ghazni (to Malistan or Jaghori), he and a few other people would join them and take him there in a helicopter. But my son told them all that there was no need to take him to our hometown, since he lived in Kabul.

When he was taken to the hospital, his condition had been very critical, and he was bleeding profusely. Even on the day of his burial, his ears, eyes, nose, and mouth were bleeding, and the bleeding still had not stopped. The Mullah told us that the only way to stop the bleeding was to put a bandage on those parts. I then authorized the Mullah to bury him and delay his funeral prayer. Among the thirty-eight martyrs buried in the Martyrs Hill, Nawroz was physically very tall; he was 195 cm. When they were burying him, his grave turned out to be too small, so they had to make the grave about 50 centimeters longer, because his feet didn't fit inside the tomb. He was buried in plot 18 of the Martyrs' Hills. When they were burying him, someone had asked my brother how the martyr was related to him. My brother said he was his nephew. They asked about his age, and my brother said he was just 18. Everybody cried for him a lot and shed tears for his youth. When I visited his grave, I cried and told myself that he was a gift from God and the earth. God had given him a chance to live for 18 years but had taken back his gift.

We can never forget the sorrow we feel in losing him. His mother cries every time she thinks about and remembers him. I console her and ask her not to cry because she will get restless. I urge her to pray for him, by giving her the example of the Purified Progeny of the Holy Prophet. I tell her that if there was a way to bring them back by shedding a tear, all humanity would have wept for them. So, don't cry, I say, trust in God and keep patience, as did the Purified Progeny of the Holy Prophet. One day, they organized a public Fatiha ceremony for the martyrs in Rasoul-e Akram Mosque. When we returned home in the evening, Yunus Qanouni, along with several other people, visited our house and told us, “Such deaths do not happen to everybody. He was martyred for justice.” Now, I want to thank you for administering this program for families of the martyrs, so we can share our grief with you and other friends, and our heavy hearts can become a bit lighter.

On July 23, 2016, two suicide bombers denoted their explosives among the protesters at Dehmazang Square in Kabul, the capital city of Afghanistan. The protesters, who were primarily Hazaras, were part of the Enlightenment Movement. They were protesting against the diversion of the TUTAP mega power project which would cause the project to bypass Hazara-dominated areas. At least 84 protesters lost their lives and 260-400 others were injured. The Islamic State of Khorasan Province (ISKP), the regional branch of ISIS, took credit for the attack. However, ISKP later refuted their involvement in the attack.

The Enlightenment Movement, also known as Junbesh-e Roshnayie, was a grassroots civil disobedience movement started by Hazaras in Afghanistan in response to a change in the Fichtner GmbH & Co. KG proposed Energy Supply Improvement Investment Program, unofficially called TUTAP project plans. The change in the project plans would cause it to bypass Hazara regions. The move was seen as perpetuating long-standing anti-Hazara discrimination. Throughout 2016 and 2017, the Enlightenment Movement coordinated large-scale demonstrations against discrimination both domestically in Afghanistan and abroad.

Abbas Was Martyred and Left Me Alone with Sorrows

Narrator: Zahra (mother)

Victim: Abbas Mohammadi

Date of the incident: 23 July 2016

Location of the incident: Dehmazang, Kabul City

Abbas always left for work early in the morning, but on the day of the demonstration, no matter how much I called him, he would not wake up. I attended to the house chores, but he still didn’t wake up. I called him again, but he told me he was tired and wanted to rest. When he woke up, he asked his wife for his white clothes, but his wife did not give him the clothes. He got angry and kicked her, saying, “Every day my mother ironed my clothes. Today she has washed clothes and is tired. ” I calmed him down. His wife ironed the clothes and gave them to him. Abbas called and said he wanted to wear the new slippers he had bought the day before. He called me and said, “Mother! If there is anything left from the Eid cookies, bring me some. I am very hungry for cookies.” I quickly brought him some cookies. When having tea, he said, “Mother, I don’t feel interested in work today.” I said it’s good for you to go to work. I gave him a new handkerchief as he was leaving the house. Around noon, we were sitting at the table and having lunch, and I told his sister in-law, “I feel very restless today. Please call Abbas.” When she called Abbas, he did not pick up the phone. A few minutes later, he called and said he was in Dehmazang waiting for the demonstration to come to an end.

We ate lunch and put away the tablecloth. At 1:24 pm, I got the news that there had been an explosion. I immediately called his number but he didn’t answer. I was beating myself and crying. His father wouldn’t let me leave the house because I could not control myself. I told him, “Let me go. My son has been martyred.” I kept crying and screaming until the next day, but it was pointless. The next morning, at 10:00 am, Abbas was taken to the mosque. I went there and saw Abbas. I passed out when I saw his body. When I regained consciousness, I asked everyone where Abbas was. They said they had taken him to the cemetery for burial. He has two children, a seven-year-old girl, and a two-year-old boy. His wife is also pregnant. Soon after Abbas was martyred, less than forty days after, his wife’s family came to find their daughter and took her away. I pleaded with her not to go. I said it is your house, and you are like my daughter, but she did not listen to me. She went and left her children behind. She said she would also bring us the new child after birth. She listened to her father, who wanted her to go to his house. We live in the same alley. Now, I feel hopeless for this innocent child crying at night and calling for his mother. I don’t know what my daughter in-law’s family told her to make her leave the children and go to her father’s house. Abbas was martyred and left me alone with such sorrows.

On July 23, 2016, two suicide bombers denoted their explosives among the protesters at Dehmazang Square in Kabul, the capital city of Afghanistan. The protesters, who were primarily Hazaras, were part of the Enlightenment Movement. They were protesting against the diversion of the TUTAP mega power project which would cause the project to bypass Hazara-dominated areas. At least 84 protesters lost their lives and 260-400 others were injured. The Islamic State of Khorasan Province (ISKP), the regional branch of ISIS, took credit for the attack. However, ISKP later refuted their involvement in the attack.

The Enlightenment Movement, also known as Junbesh-e Roshnayie, was a grassroots civil disobedience movement started by Hazaras in Afghanistan in response to a change in the Fichtner GmbH & Co. KG proposed Energy Supply Improvement Investment Program, unofficially called TUTAP project plans. The change in the project plans would cause it to bypass Hazara regions. The move was seen as perpetuating long-standing anti-Hazara discrimination. Throughout 2016 and 2017, the Enlightenment Movement coordinated large-scale demonstrations against discrimination both domestically in Afghanistan and abroad.

I can never forgive the blood of my brother being spilled. I will never forgive my brother’s killers

Narrator: Amena (sister)

Victim: Sayed Ishaq Hussaini

Date of the incident: 23 July 2016

Location of the incident: Dehmazang, Kabul City

I am the sister of Shahid (martyred) Ishaq. I don’t know his exact date of birth. He finished twelfth grade in the Waras district in the province of Bamyan. After he graduated from twelfth grade, he went to Iran for 13 months. Last year during Arba'ein (the fortieth day after Ashura), he was in Karbala. Five months ago, until Sizdah Bedar (Nature’s Day), he was in Iran, and after 13 days of the Nowruz holidays, he returned to the [Afghanistan]…from Iran. When he returned from Iran, he enrolled in some training courses.

Two days before Eid, he went to our home village to visit my parents and spent almost 12 to 13 days with them. I called and told him to come back and study for his courses as they had already resumed. On Thursday he returned from our home village and he came to our house on Friday afternoon. After greetings and prayers, we ate dinner together and chatted until midnight. Then we went to bed.

The following day was the day of the incident. It was Saturday. After he had breakfast, he said goodbye and told me he would go to his own room. Since he was a student, he had rented a room with friends. He didn’t tell me he was going to the demonstration. I followed the demonstrations on television up to the point when I saw the suicide attack. Each time I called him, he said he was in his room and hid from me…that he was actually taking part in the demonstration. After the suicide attack, I called him but someone else picked up his phone. When I ask the person where the owner of the phone was, he said the owner of the phone had been wounded and his hand was slightly injured.

By the time I found a taxi and went to the hospital, he had already been martyred (he had passed away). He was only 21 years old and had a fiancée. He would always tell me that his one wish in life was to go back to Karbala…one more time, after which if he died, he would not wish for anything more. On the night before his martyrdom/death, [my brother] related to me that he had had dreamt that he had visited Karbala. He died/was martyred the following day.

[My brother] would always offer his prayer and would always recite the Holy Quran. In the morning before he went to his room, he asked me after prayer to turn the light on for him, so he could read the Quran. When my maternal cousin learned that Ishaq had been martyred/killed, he told us that he was a faithful boy who cared about the afterlife. He was a son of the soil, and God would not let him sin. We all believe that Sayed ul-Shuhada (the Master of Martyrs) has accepted Ishaq’s pilgrimage [to Karbala]. Now, my old mother has asked us to provide her with travel expenses so she can go on pilgrimage [to Karbala] on behalf of her son.

He would not go out for no reason, and whenever he would go out, his head was down and he never harassed anyone. I have two other brothers and they are also the best, but God who created Sayed from earth, also took him back into the earth, away from us. I had already made embroidered clothes/shalwar kameez for his wedding. When he was chatting with me, he said he didn’t have enough money for the wedding ceremony and he would have to wait till the following year, though if his fiancée’s family insisted, he would have to hold the wedding sooner.

When I went to the Mowla Ali Hospital to find him, he was lying in his own blood. His head had been injured very badly. I was so heavy-hearted I didn’t know what to do. My husband and I took his body out of the hospital. None of our relatives were there and I felt very lonely. My parents are very old. We buried Ishaq alone; we had to bury our loved one among strangers. My mother still sheds tears and has become sick with grief because of losing my brother. My other brother cries when he is alone. My heart aches when I see him so restless and sad. No matter how much we console him, he cannot forget his sorrow over losing our brother (martyr) Ishaq. I myself go to the hill [the Hill of Martyrs] out of immense heartache and cry up there so that I don’t bother my husband. My brother was only 21 years old. He was martyred along with other youths. It happened as if by accident, though it may have been intentional. I can never forgive the blood of my brother being spilled. I will never forgive my brother’s killers. Ethnic leaders betrayed us and made our youths their political toys, and then they sacrificed them.

On July 23, 2016, two suicide bombers denoted their explosives among the protesters at Dehmazang Square in Kabul, the capital city of Afghanistan. The protesters, who were primarily Hazaras, were part of the Enlightenment Movement. They were protesting against the diversion of the TUTAP mega power project which would cause the project to bypass Hazara-dominated areas. At least 84 protesters lost their lives and 260-400 others were injured. The Islamic State of Khorasan Province (ISKP), the regional branch of ISIS, took credit for the attack. However, ISKP later refuted their involvement in the attack.

The Enlightenment Movement, also known as Junbesh-e Roshnayie, was a grassroots civil disobedience movement started by Hazaras in Afghanistan in response to a change in the Fichtner GmbH & Co. KG proposed Energy Supply Improvement Investment Program, unofficially called TUTAP project plans. The change in the project plans would cause it to bypass Hazara regions. The move was seen as perpetuating long-standing anti-Hazara discrimination. Throughout 2016 and 2017, the Enlightenment Movement coordinated large-scale demonstrations against discrimination both domestically in Afghanistan and abroad.

He was there Consciously, Decisively Seeking Justice

Narrator: Sultan (father)

Victim: Nabi Sultani

Date of the incident: 23 July 2016

Location of the incident: Dehmazang, Kabul City

I am the father of martyed Nabi Sultani. My son attended school up to grade 5 in Shahr-e Naw, in the Varas District, in Bamyan Province. Afterwards, we moved to Kabul, where he continued his studies until 12th grade at Sayed al-Shohada School and graduated as the top student. My son Nabi was an intelligent and diligent youth. He completed English courses and was very interested in athletics, becoming a kick-box trainer. He participated in the university entrance exam, successfully enrolled in Kabul University, and passed his first year. In his second year, he was killed during the July 23rd attack. He had earned several honours for the family. In addition to education and sports, he was also working and thus helped with some of our financial problems. He was a trainer in his own sports club, which was how we covered our expenses. However, the betrayal of ethnic elders has victimized our youth. We will never forget the blood of our youth.

His mother is still unsettled and crying. We can't do anything but be patient before God. He was a sociable and courteous boy and always tried to behave well with family members. Everyone loved him. His sisters are still grieving his loss. On the day he was killed, he was there consciously, decisively seeking justice. But his time had come, and God took his precious gift back from us. Martyr Nabi was 22-years-old. Like other young people, my child fell victim to the betrayal of our lying leaders.

On July 23, 2016, two suicide bombers denoted their explosives among the protesters at Dehmazang Square in Kabul, the capital city of Afghanistan. The protesters, who were primarily Hazaras, were part of the Enlightenment Movement. They were protesting against the diversion of the TUTAP mega power project which would cause the project to bypass Hazara-dominated areas. At least 84 protesters lost their lives and 260-400 others were injured. The Islamic State of Khorasan Province (ISKP), the regional branch of ISIS, took credit for the attack. However, ISKP later refuted their involvement in the attack.

The Enlightenment Movement, also known as Junbesh-e Roshnayie, was a grassroots civil disobedience movement started by Hazaras in Afghanistan in response to a change in the Fichtner GmbH & Co. KG proposed Energy Supply Improvement Investment Program, unofficially called TUTAP project plans. The change in the project plans would cause it to bypass Hazara regions. The move was seen as perpetuating long-standing anti-Hazara discrimination. Throughout 2016 and 2017, the Enlightenment Movement coordinated large-scale demonstrations against discrimination both domestically in Afghanistan and abroad.

Education Had Become His Top Priority

Narrator: Rafiullah Rahimi (brother)

Victim: Mohsen Rahimi

Date of the incident: 23 July 2016

Location of the incident: Dehmazang, Kabul City

We are from Ghazni province, the village of Golkoh in Qarabagh district. We are four brothers. When I was born, both my mother and I were very sick. No one believed I would survive, and someone even suggested throwing “this boy” in the stream so he could die and to prevent his suffering later. My mother was operated on three times. My bones were very soft. No one held out much hope for my chances of survival.

Because of me, my mother underwent a surgical operation and had almost seven stitches in her stomach. Life was hard and people had no money. Our hometown was remote and people had to travel a long way to get to the city. We were almost three hours from the city, and people had to travel this long distance just to buy a bag of flour to feed their family. There were no shops or markets nearby. I was born into a large family. There were almost 30 of us in the one family. It would take a long time for everybody to wash their hands before a meal. Now, my elder brother tells me to thank God because life has changed. Now, I pour water for seven people to wash their hands, and I still complain that it’s a hard job! My elder brother said, “I was younger than you when I had to serve 30-40 people to wash their hands, but you think it’s hard today to serve seven people! You should know that when you work hard, it is good and rewarding.” One of my sisters died at a very young age. Before my brother’s martyrdom, my mother mourned my sister, who had died several years before. She always wished she knew where her daughter’s grave was, so she could visit it whenever she missed her.

At that time, my father used to buy and sell livestock. When he purchased livestock, he would graze them on the pastures. In this way, he would provide for our family. There was no proper schooling in our area. We went to school symbolically, as it were, and used to sit there for a while, and then return home or to the fields. At night we brought the livestock home and gave them water and fed them. But my brother Mohsen studied very hard and was top of his class in 7th grade. He then stayed at the top throughout his school years up to 12th grade and studied very hard. Education was his top priority. He did not attend too many gatherings or parties as he spent much time studying for that. Even if he did, he did not talk for long or laugh too much. He always behaved nicely with everyone. He used to read and worship God when he was alone. My father noticed Mohsen’s continued efforts, and travelled from Ghazni to Kabul, saying he would become successful and that this would be a great honor for the whole family. We remained in Ghazni while my father sent Mohsen to Kabul so as ensure he could continue comfortably with his study plans. Later, my brother became a doctor.

My eldest brother [not Mohsen] went to school in Qarabagh district up to the 12th grade. On the day of his entrance exam, war broke out on the road to Qarabagh. Due to this, they could not arrive at school on time and he was not able to take the exam. Since he was never able to take his 12th grade exam, he started to drive a vehicle. After a while, he left for Iran. My other brother, too, studied up to 10th grade and then moved to Iran. One of them lived in Yazd, and the other in Isfahan. My eldest brother was in Isfahan. One day, he informed me through Facebook that Dr. Mohsen had been injured.

My other brother, who lived in Yazd, only learned about what had happened two weeks later when he went to see my elder brother in Isfahan. Before he heard this news, he [the brother in Yazd] had called us and inquired about Mohsen. He said, “Dr. Mohsen is very busy. Where is he now?” We told him that the doctor had an exam and was busy studying. My brother insisted we should call Mohsen so he could talk to him just for 5 minutes. He said, “I have missed him a lot. Maybe he has at least 5 minutes for us?” We did not dare disclose the truth. Instead, we told him, “He does not have time this Friday. He will talk to you next Friday.”

Finally, he learned about it and became very agitated. Now, when the subject comes up, he pretends he does not know about it. He does not want to remember that Mohsen was martyred and does not even talk about it when others discuss it. He does not tell people that he is aware of Mohsen’s death. He doesn’t reveal his suffering to others and doesn’t want anyone to know about his sorrows. He sheds tears alone and keeps silent. After Mohsen’s death, when people see me, they say I should be a substitute for Dr. Mohsen and try to become someone who could support the family and his people.

As I said, two of my brothers are in Iran; they work there. One of my sisters is in grade 12 this year and is preparing for the university entrance exam. My family, friends, and relatives always tell me that I should fill his void and become a doctor. I tell them that I will never be able to fill his void, but I will try my best to work as hard as he did. When he was alive, he always told me to study and try to achieve my dreams. At that time, I was getting upset and angry and would say to him, “What does this have to do with you? Focus on your own studies.” He would answer, “I have compassion for you, you are my brother, and I want you to be successful. Otherwise, why don’t I encourage the neighbour’s son? Why don’t I encourage complete strangers to study?”

Neighbourhood boys, friends, and relatives who lived nearby would always come to him to get help with their school assignments. He used to tell me, “Look, they come to me and ask me to solve their problems in mathematics, in other subjects, and in the English language. But you, my brother, do not come to me to get your questions answered. You show no interest in education.” Now that we have lost him, I realize that he cared about me and tried his best to encourage me to study, for my benefit. But I also know it’s too late. It is too late, and no one can ever fill the void he left for my family members and me. I have just realized that sometimes it’s too late to regret, but we shouldn’t lose hope. We should try to change our lives here and now, and not to disappoint ourselves and others.

On July 23, 2016, two suicide bombers denoted their explosives among the protesters at Dehmazang Square in Kabul, the capital city of Afghanistan. The protesters, who were primarily Hazaras, were part of the Enlightenment Movement. They were protesting against the diversion of the TUTAP mega power project which would cause the project to bypass Hazara-dominated areas. At least 84 protesters lost their lives and 260-400 others were injured. The Islamic State of Khorasan Province (ISKP), the regional branch of ISIS, took credit for the attack. However, ISKP later refuted their involvement in the attack.

The Enlightenment Movement, also known as Junbesh-e Roshnayie, was a grassroots civil disobedience movement started by Hazaras in Afghanistan in response to a change in the Fichtner GmbH & Co. KG proposed Energy Supply Improvement Investment Program, unofficially called TUTAP project plans. The change in the project plans would cause it to bypass Hazara regions. The move was seen as perpetuating long-standing anti-Hazara discrimination. Throughout 2016 and 2017, the Enlightenment Movement coordinated large-scale demonstrations against discrimination both domestically in Afghanistan and abroad.

He Was Admitted to the Journalism Faculty at Kabul University

Narrator: Sayed Karim (Cousin (auntie’s son)

Victim: Sayed Mahdi Masoumzada

Date of the incident: 23 July 2016

Location of the incident: Dehmazang, Kabul City

Sayed Mahdi Masoumzada turned 20 this year [2016]. He was born in Varas District in Bamyan Province. He attended first to twelfth grade in Varas, and in 2012, graduated from twelfth grade. He sat the public university entrance exam but did not wait for the results. Instead, he secretly came to Kabul with some friends. One of his cousins called me and said, “Your auntie’s son has come to Kabul and is planning to go to Iran.” I quickly went to Kampany [in Kabul] and looked for him in all the vehicles there, but could not find him. I called his number, but his phone was turned off.

He called me at 10 o'clock and I told him not to go to Iran, but he refused. Since he was not listening to me, I followed him and brought him home. The next day, he travelled to Iran, but the border police harassed him. With difficulty he reached the city of Kerman but because workers’ conditions were not good there, he soon returned to Afghanistan. Later, he wanted to go to Iran for a second time, but we did not allow him to go. After some time, the entrance exam results were announced, and he learned that he had been successful and was admitted to the journalism faculty of Kabul University. He was in Bamyan and returned to Kabul after hearing the good news.

After enrolling at the university, he moved away from home to live in a dormitory. He visited our house once a month and at other times, he stayed in the dormitory. In the month of Ramadan, his father called him and told him to come home as it had been a long time since he visited. His father said it would be good for him to spend some time with the family during the days of Eid. Mahdi was not interested in going to Bamiyan, but he told me he wanted to go home because of his father's call. On the nights of Qadr, he would stay in the dormitory and rarely visited our house. I called him and asked him why he would not come to the house. He said, "I don't like to bother relatives while I'm away from home for my educational programs. I would rather stay in the dorm." He travelled to Bamiyan Province for just three days and then returned to Kabul. When he came, he took all his belongings back to the dormitory. A few days later, I called him, but his phone was switched off. I called him the next day and asked him to come back to our house. He said, “I will come to your house tomorrow night.” The day he came to our house, I was unfortunately not at home. Then the attack happened on July 23rd.

Before the incident, he had organized all his belongings in his dormitory and put them in his bag. He had bought white clothes and a white scarf specially for the July 23rd demonstration. The night before the rally, he told his friends that clothing was his shroud. He called me the night before the incident and wanted me to participate in the demonstration the next day. I called him in the morning and he said he would be coming by at 11 o’clock in the morning. But on the day of the protest, some of us who were planning to go eventually turned back at Qala-e Naw to go visit a sick family member.

It was only at 3:30 in the afternoon that we were informed there had been an explosion in Dehmazang. I called my cousin, but he didn't answer. I called his friends, and they said my cousin’s brother had already called Mahdi three times that day asking him not to take part in the demonstration. To put his brother’s mind at rest, Mahdi told him he wouldn't be joining in the march. When I called his brother, he didn't answer his phone either. Our own house is about 10 minutes from Qala-e Naw. But on that day, it took me half an hour to arrive home. It felt like ages. By the time I got home, I noticed my father and brother were not there. I asked about them and was told Mahdi was wounded, and they had gone to visit him in hospital.

When my father learned that Mahdi was injured, he walked on foot from Qala-e Maw to Dar al-Aman. Meanwhile, the wounded and martyrs had been transferred to various different hospitals. His friends searched several hospitals and could not find him. At 6:00 pm, his friends called to say that Mahdi was in Esteqlal Hospital, but they had not been allowed to go in and see him. We pretended not to know anything, because my mother was so restless. At 7:00 p.m., Mahdi's brother went to the hospital. When they allowed my brother to enter, he recognized Mahdi. According to my brother, when he entered the hospital, all the rooms, the corridor, and the morgue were full of corpses and the wounded. Part of Mahdi’s forehead had been cleaned, and that was how his brother recognized him. Several pieces of shrapnel had hit his body and he died before our family was able to arrive. They didn't hand over Mahdi's body that night, instead at 8:00 a.m. the next day because of the hot weather. The same day, we took the body and transferred it to Bamyan where we then buried him. Unfortunately, I don’t know the details since I was still in Kabul.

On July 23, 2016, two suicide bombers denoted their explosives among the protesters at Dehmazang Square in Kabul, the capital city of Afghanistan. The protesters, who were primarily Hazaras, were part of the Enlightenment Movement. They were protesting against the diversion of the TUTAP mega power project which would cause the project to bypass Hazara-dominated areas. At least 84 protesters lost their lives and 260-400 others were injured. The Islamic State of Khorasan Province (ISKP), the regional branch of ISIS, took credit for the attack. However, ISKP later refuted their involvement in the attack.

The Enlightenment Movement, also known as Junbesh-e Roshnayie, was a grassroots civil disobedience movement started by Hazaras in Afghanistan in response to a change in the Fichtner GmbH & Co. KG proposed Energy Supply Improvement Investment Program, unofficially called TUTAP project plans. The change in the project plans would cause it to bypass Hazara regions. The move was seen as perpetuating long-standing anti-Hazara discrimination. Throughout 2016 and 2017, the Enlightenment Movement coordinated large-scale demonstrations against discrimination both domestically in Afghanistan and abroad.

He Would Always Tell Me He Would Go Overseas

Narrator: Rahmatullah (father)

Victim: Azizullah Sabzo

Date of the incident: 23 July 2016

Location of the incident: Dehmazang, Kabul City

Azizullah enrolled in Deh Dana School at the age of seven. He was attending twelfth grade at the Mehrabuddin School in Chehel-Soton. He always told me he was interested in going overseas after finishing school. I would tell him, “My son, what are you going to do overseas? Whatever you like to do, do it in Afghanistan and build your life here.” But he would always say that it was his dream to go abroad. On the day of the incident, his friends called him: “Azizullah, where are you, brother?” He told them that he was at home. They told him to come and join them in the demonstration. “What type of a friend you are, leaving us alone?” they said.

He joined his friends in Dehmazang. Around 2 p.m., the attack happened, and my son was killed at the age of 18. We were very satisfied and happy with him. He was a calm and well-mannered boy, and I can say he was fortunate. He was very social and respected everyone.

On July 23, 2016, two suicide bombers denoted their explosives among the protesters at Dehmazang Square in Kabul, the capital city of Afghanistan. The protesters, who were primarily Hazaras, were part of the Enlightenment Movement. They were protesting against the diversion of the TUTAP mega power project which would cause the project to bypass Hazara-dominated areas. At least 84 protesters lost their lives and 260-400 others were injured. The Islamic State of Khorasan Province (ISKP), the regional branch of ISIS, took credit for the attack. However, ISKP later refuted their involvement in the attack.

The Enlightenment Movement, also known as Junbesh-e Roshnayie, was a grassroots civil disobedience movement started by Hazaras in Afghanistan in response to a change in the Fichtner GmbH & Co. KG proposed Energy Supply Improvement Investment Program, unofficially called TUTAP project plans. The change in the project plans would cause it to bypass Hazara regions. The move was seen as perpetuating long-standing anti-Hazara discrimination. Throughout 2016 and 2017, the Enlightenment Movement coordinated large-scale demonstrations against discrimination both domestically in Afghanistan and abroad.

He Detested Indolence

Narrator: Ali Sina (son)

Victim: Homayoun Rasikh

Date of the incident: 23 July 2016

Location of the incident: Dehmazang, Kabul City

My father was born in Qol Village of the Qarabagh District in Ghazni Province. He got married in his early youth at 14-years-old. He spent his childhood in that province. After American forces defeated the Taliban and during the transitional government, my father moved to Kabul and started a new life in the city. He rented a shop in the Mandavi neighbourhood and started working. He was sociable, kind, and calm. He did not argue with anyone, and always treated people with patience and kindness. The people in our community loved him very much.

He always warned us that one should not be proud of his status, worldly possessions, or even children, because this pride may cause a person to fail. It could make people hate a person, keep their distance, and not come to their aid in times of need. He was always busy doing something and he detested indolence. As I grew up, I never saw my father just going out to have fun, not even once. He continually worked and struggled to improve our lives so we would not feel underprivileged.

He was very fond of his people and always defended the rights of the oppressed. One night before the incident, I asked him why Hazaras only had the right to 3% of government posts, and why even that low percentage was currently not met. He explained that oppressed communities are always marginalized because of injustice and corruption in the country, and if we protest against the government, we will also suffer. Only education and awareness could save our people from poverty and their plight. A week before the July 23rd demonstration, his behavior with the family members changed. It was strange. He tried to take the time to speak with each and every family member. He had so many dreams for our future. He would always say: “All I want is for you to get an education and be able to help yourself, your family, and your society.” My sisters and I saw my father the morning of the attack. The night before the incident of July 23rd, I insisted that I would also go along to the demonstration. My father warned that I was inexperienced and that something could happen. He did not want me to get hurt. Also the following morning, my uncle announced that he too wanted to take part in the demonstration. But my father opposed this and said he would participate on behalf of his whole family; that that would be enough.

I go to Ghazi High School, and my sisters go to Suriya High School. I returned from school at 9 am on July 23rd and ran into my father in Karte Sakhi. I asked him where he was going, and he said he would go to Dehburi and from there to Dehmazang. He asked where I was going. I said I had been let out of school early, and I was going home. Then I would go to the shop to help my uncle. When I went to my uncle’s shop, after an hour, he told me, “You have to take some money to the Karavan Printing House in Dehmazang.” We had previously borrowed some money from the owner of the printing house, and July 23rd was the due date for repayment. I left for Dehmazang to repay the money, but it was crowded. The road was closed. I made it to the printing house with great difficulty and paid the money. The streets were closed so I couldn't get a taxi. So I walked to Karte Sakhi and arrived there by 11 o'clock. Later in the day, it was around 1:30pm and I hadn't eaten. I was hungry so I was going to eat when our shop apprentice, Abuzar, said, “An hour ago, I saw your father in Dehmazang. Now I have heard there was an explosion.” I became distraught and called my father but he didn't answer his phone. My father had a SIM card shop in Kot-e-Sangi. I called all his numbers but still got no answer. I kept on calling, but I didn't get a response until someone else picked up his phone around 2 pm. He said the phone's owner was wounded, and we had to go to Aliabad Hospital. By the time I got to the hospital, my father had died.

Some days later, I saw a video showing my father trying to get into an ambulance when he was injured but because of the horrible situation, no one was paying attention. The cause of my father's death was severe bleeding. One piece shrapnel damaged an artery, and another hit his back. When I received my father's body, I was in a terrible mental state, and did not realize we should register his name in the hospital. We buried him in Karte-Sakhi.

On the day of the incident, my father had talked to [Ahmad] Behzad just five minutes before the explosion. The explosion happened after Behzad left. This story was told by Behzad himself when he came to our house to offer his condolences. After the incident, my mother forbade me from taking part in Movement gatherings. We all believed we were risking our lives to gain legitimacy, trading the blood of our poor and oppressed people.

We received 50,000 Afghanis from the Movement and 20,000 Afghanis from Ayatollah Mohaqeq Kabuli. We did not receive any honorarium from the government. My mother visited the Ministry of Martyrs and Disabled to get a card. They said that some Movement leaders had submitted group applications for the families of martyrs and were working on it, but there have been no updates so far. I am the family's eldest child and in the 10th grade. I have five sisters younger than me, and I am now responsible for caring for the family. Now, I must study and work at the same time so that my family does not need help from others with our daily expenses. I try to fulfil one of my father's wishes, which is to serve my family.

On July 23, 2016, two suicide bombers denoted their explosives among the protesters at Dehmazang Square in Kabul, the capital city of Afghanistan. The protesters, who were primarily Hazaras, were part of the Enlightenment Movement. They were protesting against the diversion of the TUTAP mega power project which would cause the project to bypass Hazara-dominated areas. At least 84 protesters lost their lives and 260-400 others were injured. The Islamic State of Khorasan Province (ISKP), the regional branch of ISIS, took credit for the attack. However, ISKP later refuted their involvement in the attack.

The Enlightenment Movement, also known as Junbesh-e Roshnayie, was a grassroots civil disobedience movement started by Hazaras in Afghanistan in response to a change in the Fichtner GmbH & Co. KG proposed Energy Supply Improvement Investment Program, unofficially called TUTAP project plans. The change in the project plans would cause it to bypass Hazara regions. The move was seen as perpetuating long-standing anti-Hazara discrimination. Throughout 2016 and 2017, the Enlightenment Movement coordinated large-scale demonstrations against discrimination both domestically in Afghanistan and abroad.

He Used to Encourage His Friends to Stand Up for Their Rights

Narrator: Hazratullah Shirzad (brother)

Victim: Abdul Latif Zahidi

Date of the incident: 23 July 2016

Location of the incident: Dehmazang, Kabul City

Praise to the martyrs of the 23rd of July, and greetings to you. I am Hazratullah Shirzad, brother of the martyr Abdul Latif. We come from Ghazni Province, Qarabagh District. My brother graduated from Naiqala High School during the Taliban era. Because conditions were terrible in those years, he emigrated to Iran and lived and worked there for several years. After a few years, he returned to Afghanistan. He spent some time in Kandahar Province and then came to Kabul. After he came here, he worked with me in dentistry.

I went to Ghazni this year during Ramadan and remained there until the day of the incident. My brother always encouraged his friends and us to get an education. He advised all his friends to study hard, he was a keen reader. He was 28-years-old when he was killed, and left behind two daughters and two sons. After my brother's death, life has been difficult for the entire family and for me. He was not only a brother, but also a good friend and comrade to all of us.

As I said, when the incident happened, I was in Ghazni. Someone called me to say that a suicide attack had occurred in Dehmazang, and that unfortunately, Abdul Latif was injured. They wanted me to return to Kabul as soon as possible. I didn't even know how they took him to the hospital or how he had been martyred. By the time I arrived in Kabul, it was too late. I didn't know the details of the incident, but I arrived at his funeral. I couldn't believe it. I was in a terrible mental state; it is excruciating and almost impossible to describe those moments. He always encouraged his friends to stand up for their civil rights and not allow anyone to violate them. He believed everyone should have equal rights and access to social justice. To achieve that, they must fight.

On July 23, 2016, two suicide bombers denoted their explosives among the protesters at Dehmazang Square in Kabul, the capital city of Afghanistan. The protesters, who were primarily Hazaras, were part of the Enlightenment Movement. They were protesting against the diversion of the TUTAP mega power project which would cause the project to bypass Hazara-dominated areas. At least 84 protesters lost their lives and 260-400 others were injured. The Islamic State of Khorasan Province (ISKP), the regional branch of ISIS, took credit for the attack. However, ISKP later refuted their involvement in the attack.

The Enlightenment Movement, also known as Junbesh-e Roshnayie, was a grassroots civil disobedience movement started by Hazaras in Afghanistan in response to a change in the Fichtner GmbH & Co. KG proposed Energy Supply Improvement Investment Program, unofficially called TUTAP project plans. The change in the project plans would cause it to bypass Hazara regions. The move was seen as perpetuating long-standing anti-Hazara discrimination. Throughout 2016 and 2017, the Enlightenment Movement coordinated large-scale demonstrations against discrimination both domestically in Afghanistan and abroad.

I Will Stay and Serve in Afghanistan as Long as I Am Alive

Narrator: Abdul Wahid (brother)

Victim: Abdul Aziz Rahimi

Date of the incident: 23 July 2016

Location of the incident: Dehmazang, Kabul City

I am going to share the story of my martyred brother with you. He was born on the 11th of March in 1990. In 1996, he was enrolled in school in Islam Qala in Pol-e Khomri. We lived in Baghlan Province for almost ten years, after which we moved to the centre of Bamiyan, where he completed his studies in under three years.

When he took the university entrance exam, he was admitted into the Faculty of Literature of Kabul University. He began his studies in the Spanish department. He graduated from university in 2012. After graduating from university, he spent two years trying to find a job. By late 2010, the Spanish forces asked the faculty to introduce to them a few students who knew the Spanish language in order to serve in the national army. The program, led by the faculty professors, lasted for six months. During this time, my brother served in provinces such as Kandahar, Farah, and Herat. By late 2011, he returned to the university to continue his studies. He graduated from the university in 2012.

Before he graduated from university, the Spanish Embassy suggested to ten individuals, including my brother, that they could take them to Spain, give them permanent residence, and pay their expenses for six months. A month later, I asked him what had happened to that process. I told him Spain would take him there for free, so he could improve his life there. He told me: “I have studied and worked hard for 16 years while my compatriots have served us. It is not fair to abandon our people and our country to work for other countries. I will stay and serve in Afghanistan as long as I am alive”.

They had given them some money. I asked him to give us some of it to buy tires for the truck we had and to service the vehicle. He said, "I'm sorry, I can't give you even one Afghani because I am planning to get my master's degree.” In 2016, he was close to completing his master's. His thesis was focused on the environment. His work has remained incomplete and is on his computer. He wanted to publish it as a book, but death did not give him time. He was martyred in the heartbreaking attack on July 23rd, 2016.

On July 23, 2016, two suicide bombers denoted their explosives among the protesters at Dehmazang Square in Kabul, the capital city of Afghanistan. The protesters, who were primarily Hazaras, were part of the Enlightenment Movement. They were protesting against the diversion of the TUTAP mega power project which would cause the project to bypass Hazara-dominated areas. At least 84 protesters lost their lives and 260-400 others were injured. The Islamic State of Khorasan Province (ISKP), the regional branch of ISIS, took credit for the attack. However, ISKP later refuted their involvement in the attack.

The Enlightenment Movement, also known as Junbesh-e Roshnayie, was a grassroots civil disobedience movement started by Hazaras in Afghanistan in response to a change in the Fichtner GmbH & Co. KG proposed Energy Supply Improvement Investment Program, unofficially called TUTAP project plans. The change in the project plans would cause it to bypass Hazara regions. The move was seen as perpetuating long-standing anti-Hazara discrimination. Throughout 2016 and 2017, the Enlightenment Movement coordinated large-scale demonstrations against discrimination both domestically in Afghanistan and abroad.

Mother, I Will Sacrifice My Life for Justice

Narrator: Zakia (mother)

Victim: Mehr Ali Mohammadi

Date of the incident: 23 July 2016

Location of the incident: Dehmazang, Kabul City

I am mother of the martyr Mehr Ali. He was 33-years-old. He was very interested in community centred activities such as demonstrations and ceremonies of the month of Muharram. He always tried to treat people well. I told him not to participate in this demonstration because of the dire situation. He smiled and said there was no way for him not to go. “If I don't go, you don't go, and since so-and-so are afraid to go, who will defend our rights?” he said. I argued that he was a workman, a simple carpenter, and he did an excellent service by providing for his children.

Three days before the incident, both of us had travelled to Pakistan. He kept telling me he hoped he would be alive until Saturday so that he could participate in the demonstration. I even got mad at him and told him the demonstration was none of his business.

What have Khalili and Mohaqeq done for you, a simple worker, why support them? If only they had stood by, defended their people, and served the poor.

He told me again: “No, mother, I will sacrifice my life for justice. If I am killed, I am a martyr. If we succeed, we will be holy warriors.” He did not listen to me. I am very sad, but I say that maybe martyrdom was his fate, and I should not be ungrateful. We went to my eldest son's house in Haji Nabi town on Friday. They had organized a Holy Quran recitation ceremony. I told my eldest son to stop Mehr Ali from going because he is married and has several children, and God forbid something could happen. My eldest son said, “I will participate in the demonstration tomorrow and take my son with me. Don't worry, there will be no problem.” He had also participated in the protest for Tabassum. When I called him to ask where he was, he said, “Don't worry, mother, I'm near Fawara Aab.” In the second demonstration, when I called him to ask him where he was, he said he was at Pol-e-Artal. In the last demonstration, his fate was to meet martyrdom, but we cannot do anything against God’s will. This time, when he went to the demonstration, I didn't even remember to call him and ask where he was.

At 2 pm, I received a call from Mazar-e-Sharif. My eldest daughter called me and asked, “Are your sons at home?” At first, I was not paying attention, and I said yes, they were at home. I suddenly remembered and told her that her brothers were in the demonstration. “Zia and Mehr Ali are at the demonstration,” I said. She suddently said that a suicide attack had just happened in Dehmazang.

I left the house and called my eldest son. He said, “Mother, I am at home, but I don’t know where Mehr Ali is.” My sons lived in separate houses, that's why they didn't know about each other’s whereabouts. My eldest son had gone to his place in Haji Nabi township. When I called Mehr Ali, his phone rang several times, but no one picked it up. I told myself that he was not an inconsiderate boy. If he got the news, he would immediately call us to update us about his location and not let us worry. I instantly thought that my son was martyred. We went to Ibn-e Sina Hospital, I saw the corpses up close. Like the father of martyr Qasemi, I kept cursing Khalili and Mohaqeq out of excruciating grief. But it was useless because they had deserted their people, sacrificing innocent youths for their deal. We went to the NDS (National Directorate of Security) Hospital. They kept us busy for a couple of hours and said he was there, but we could not find Mehr Ali. They called us again from Esteqlal Hospital and wanted us to go there. Mehr Ali was there. By the time we arrived there, they had already handed over the bodies of the martyrs.

I noticed all our close relatives were there. This led me to believe my son had been killed, he had been martyred. All our close relatives gathered around me and took me home. The body was taken to Wazir Mohammad Akbar Khan Hospital. We brought my son's body from the hospital at ten o'clock the next morning. It may have been his fate to be martyred like this. He has four small children. I still praise God and pray for his sons to grow up and have a worthy future. The tremendous pain is that his young wife is pregnant and was widowed at a young age. May God give me the ability to support and serve them. He was 33-years-old when he was martyred. He was very sociable and kind, and all our relatives, neighbours, and friends loved him. He always treated people kindly. Whenever there was a happy or sad event, Mehr Ali would help the extended family. Whenever I called and asked him where he was, he would say, “Don't worry, mother, I am at the so and so event to serve people.” He was a very diligent boy. He had not been able finish school due to the insecurity created by the Taliban, so he learned carpentry and was highly skilled at it. Despite the grief of losing him, I am proud that he was not killed for an evil cause. He was martyred for the sake of justice, and I am proud of him. I loved him very much and will always love him.

On July 23, 2016, two suicide bombers denoted their explosives among the protesters at Dehmazang Square in Kabul, the capital city of Afghanistan. The protesters, who were primarily Hazaras, were part of the Enlightenment Movement. They were protesting against the diversion of the TUTAP mega power project which would cause the project to bypass Hazara-dominated areas. At least 84 protesters lost their lives and 260-400 others were injured. The Islamic State of Khorasan Province (ISKP), the regional branch of ISIS, took credit for the attack. However, ISKP later refuted their involvement in the attack.

The Enlightenment Movement, also known as Junbesh-e Roshnayie, was a grassroots civil disobedience movement started by Hazaras in Afghanistan in response to a change in the Fichtner GmbH & Co. KG proposed Energy Supply Improvement Investment Program, unofficially called TUTAP project plans. The change in the project plans would cause it to bypass Hazara regions. The move was seen as perpetuating long-standing anti-Hazara discrimination. Throughout 2016 and 2017, the Enlightenment Movement coordinated large-scale demonstrations against discrimination both domestically in Afghanistan and abroad.

The Third Body Was My Father

Narrator: Shafiqullah (Son)

Victim: Abdul Shakoor Karimzada

Date of the incident: 23 July 2016

Location of the incident: Dehmazang, Kabul City

My father was born in 1942 in Qoluj Village of Qarabagh District in the province of Ghazni. My father was martyred in Dehmazang at the age of 74. My father has four sons and two daughters. My brothers and sisters are married and all live separately. My father always encouraged me to get an education and improve my life. He encouraged my sisters to have good relations with people. To perform the prayer, he would always go to the mosque. My father had five brothers, one of whom was killed during the wars. He spent his childhood in the village. Almost 50 years have passed since my parents got married. Their eldest child is 34-years-old. My best memory of my father is related was when I managed to pass the university entrance exam. When I told him about it, he had tears in his eyes, hugged me, and was very happy. He had many dreams for his children and always said he wanted all of us to succeed. He even encouraged his daughters to get an education and said they should go to school, get good grades in university, and achieve their dreams. We moved to Kabul in 2009, following which he never returned to Ghazni. My father was a social and good-natured person who was very fond of his children and grandchildren.

My father and brothers, Najib and Zabihullah, worked for ten years in Iran. He had a cow, and he would always look after it. Later, he sold the cow and bought a cart to work as a vendor. Sometimes he would do construction work. He had become interested in the activities of the Enlightenment Movement and frequently attended their meetings. He believed that our people should stand up for justice and raise the voice of the oppressed.

On July 23rd, he left home at 9 am. I also went to Kot-e-Sangi. I did not know my father, too, would be taking part in the demonstration. When I got there, I felt that the security situation was not good, so I returned home. The university exams were coming up, so I was studying at home. The night before the incident, Negah TV announced that the next day’s demonstration had been cancelled. However, when my father heard from the Movement's announcement that the demonstration would happen anyway, he went to Dehmazang the next day.

At 2:30 pm, when I turned on the TV, news of the explosion in Dehmazang was being broadcast on the 1TV network. My mother was distraught. She came to me and wanted me to call my father immediately. She explained that he had gone to Dehmazang. When my father left the house in the morning, no one stopped him; he was participating in the demonstration of his own free will. I called his number, but he didn't answer. I called him again, and somebody else picked up his phone and said: “I am a doctor, the owner of the phone is seriously injured, come to Ibn-e Sina Hospital.” I didn't know what I was doing. I took a taxi and immediately went to Esteqlal Hospital. I called my father's number and said I had arrived at the hospital. The doctor again told me that I should come to Ibn-e Sina Hospital. The road was closed, and the police would not allow anyone to pass. With difficulty, I made it to the hospital. I searched everywhere, but I could not find my father. A doctor called me and told me to follow him. I was in a terrible mental state and told myself my father must be injured. The doctor would take me to him. Then I realized that he was taking me to the morgue. When I got there, there were other martyrs too. The third body was my father’s. My world fell apart. I broke down and felt lost and I didn't know what to do. It was a difficult moment.

My father was transferred to the Emergency Hospital. The next day, we brought his body home. After bathing him, we buried him in the cemetery of Nawabad in Deh Qabil.

I am not asking for anything from this government because this is the same government that killed our people. I am requesting human rights institutions not to let the blood of our martyrs be wasted in vain, since they gave their lives for justice. Our loved ones did not take part in the demonstration for electricity, but because the government discriminates against some of the people of Afghanistan. We must follow in their footsteps and not let their voices be silenced.

On July 23, 2016, two suicide bombers denoted their explosives among the protesters at Dehmazang Square in Kabul, the capital city of Afghanistan. The protesters, who were primarily Hazaras, were part of the Enlightenment Movement. They were protesting against the diversion of the TUTAP mega power project which would cause the project to bypass Hazara-dominated areas. At least 84 protesters lost their lives and 260-400 others were injured. The Islamic State of Khorasan Province (ISKP), the regional branch of ISIS, took credit for the attack. However, ISKP later refuted their involvement in the attack.

The Enlightenment Movement, also known as Junbesh-e Roshnayie, was a grassroots civil disobedience movement started by Hazaras in Afghanistan in response to a change in the Fichtner GmbH & Co. KG proposed Energy Supply Improvement Investment Program, unofficially called TUTAP project plans. The change in the project plans would cause it to bypass Hazara regions. The move was seen as perpetuating long-standing anti-Hazara discrimination. Throughout 2016 and 2017, the Enlightenment Movement coordinated large-scale demonstrations against discrimination both domestically in Afghanistan and abroad.

He Laughed and Jokingly Said: “I Hope There Won’t Be a Suicide Attack Today.”

Narrator: Habibullah (brother)

Victim: Mohammad Sadiq Haidari

Date of the incident: 23 July 2016

Location of the incident: Dehmazang, Kabul City

Mohammad Sadiq was born in 1986 in the village of Daba, in the district of Yakavalang in Bamiyan Province. As a child, he was taught the Holy Quran by the Mullah in the village mosque; it was in the mosque that he learned to read and write. In 1995, he enrolled in the Deh Sorkh High School in Yakavalang District. He worked hard to become a successful student. Until Grade 9, he was top of his class. He graduated from school in 1997, and was fifth in his class. In 1999, after passing the national university entrance exam, he was accepted into Mining Geology at the Polytechnic University and completed his five-year study program. After graduating from university in 2013, he founded the Bamiyan Youth Cultural Association. He conducted literacy classes in most districts of Bamiyan, including Yakavalang and Varas.

Mohammad Sadiq was mobilized by the issue of the TUTAP project [this was a multimillion-dollar power project backed by the Asian Development Bank and World Bank to make electricity accessible to more people in Afghanistan]. People standing up for their rights motivated Mohammad Sadiq. He actively participated in programs of the Enlightenment Movement. He believed that the oppressed people of Bamiyan should were entitled to their rights, because people of the central provinces lived in poverty and darkness. Sadiq had a good relationship with people and was a socially-minded individual.

No matter how much I tell you about his good qualities, it cannot be enough. My brother was older than me and always encouraged me to study. I remember well that when I was younger, I used to wake up later than him because of the cold weather, and I was a bit lazy. He would pour water on me and make me go with him to gather grass and get used to waking up early. Because of Sadiq's continued encouragement, I graduated from school with top marks. Last year, I passed the university entrance exam, and with a high mark of 284, I was accepted into Mining Geology at the Polytechnic University. Since my first choice was medicine, I rejected that offer and plan to retake the university entrance exam [to get into Medicine].

I owe all my academic success to my brother Sadiq. I used to come to Kabul in the winter to prepare for the entrance exam and spent the winter in his room. After graduating from university, he worked for a year at the Central Statistics Office. For a while, he also worked with an NGO in Ghor Province. One of his wishes was for me to study in a good field and make him and my family proud. He was very interested in politics, so he studied Law and Political Science at Rabia Balkhi University, in addition to Geology. Unfortunately, we lost him in the July 23rd incident and he could not achieve his many dreams. He did a lot of work through the association to help youth. With assistance from Haji Mohaqeq’s party, he secured Iranian scholarships for students. He did this for almost two years. He got married this spring but had no children.

The night before the demonstration, when Khalili withdrew from the Enlightement Movement, Mohammad Sadiq cried because Khalili had abandoned his people at the last moment and made a deal with the government. People talked in the Musala, saying their leader motivated the youth and manipulated their emotions by withdrawing from the Movement. After the incident, people said that Khalili had probably compromised with the government and that the killing happened because of Khalili, Mohaqeq, and Danesh’s deal. Even on the day of the funeral of the dead, Khalili and Mohaqeq did not take part in the ceremony. Instead, they sent their representatives to the Musala. Because of people’s anger and resentment, those representatives were beaten and kicked out of the place. The poor, helpless local people were outraged. After the incident, they commented that they had not been fully aware of the TUTAP issue. Their leaders had manipulated them to mobilize, and in the end had turned their backs on their own people for self-interest. They don’t deserve the people’s respect or support.

It is a bitter and undeniable fact that because of the government's incompetence, people of the central regions do not have access to electricity and spend their evenings lit by simple oil lamps. Our youth got tired of injustice and discrimination and that's why they participated in this advocacy movement, which unfortunately ended in the death of so many of our educated and hardworking youth. I participated in the first demonstration, but Mohammad Sadiq said that the possibility of an incident was very high this time. In the morning, when he was leaving the house, he returned from the front yard and kissed the Holy Quran. Before going out, he laughed and jokingly said, “I hope there won’t be a suicide attack today.” He was joking with his mother-in-law. After leaving the house, he returned home and I noticed his nose was bleeding. He washed his face. Before he went out again, I went to him and said that I also wanted to participate in the demonstration. He said no and that I should stay home. He was very interested in civic activities and serving the people.

When the Movement was launched, he worked on the procurement committee of the Movement. Sadiq's friends later recounted that they didn't have water on the day of the incident, and Sadiq had a bottle of water. He gave it to them and went to look for water. That was when the explosion happened, and Sadiq got injured. His wounds were not serious, but he died due to lack of medical attention and severe bleeding as they could not get him to the hospital. When I came home from the educational centre, the electricity was out and I hadn’t heard about the explosion. My brother-in-law is a mining engineer in Dara Suf, Samangan Province. He called and asked if someone from our family had been at the demonstration. I said Sadiq was there. I felt the worry in his voice. He said there had been an explosion in Dehmazang. He was monitoring that day's demonstration via Facebook, through which he was informed of the attack.

I went out of the house immediately and when I got close to the main road, I saw ambulances. I went to Naser Khosrow and Watan hospitals where some of the wounded were being transferred. My brother's name was not among the list of those injured. I called my cousin, and he said, “I am going to the Esteqlal and Emergency Hospitals. Maybe I will find Sadiq there.” He thought he had seen him among the wounded, but was not sure if he had recognized Sadiq. When I went to the Esteqlal Hospital, I recognized him at once. His rosary was on his chest. I spent many years with my brother, and I recognized him from his clothes and his rosary. As soon as I saw his body, I could not move. It was unbearable to see his condition.

Some representatives of the Movement said that they wanted to bury the martyrs on a hilltop, but my family and some other families from Bamiyan Province took their dead to their own home district and buried them there. Sadiq was the family's breadwinner and carried most of the family responsibilities. Our financial situation is not too bad. My father is a shopkeeper, and he provides for our household needs. My brother Sadiq used to pay for my study expenses because he wanted me to study medicine. I gave up studying Mining Geology at his suggestion and started preparing to retake the university entrance exam to achieve his and my wish. But when he was martyred, he left me alone with my dreams. When I passed the mock entrance exam, I got a good grade. So as a young elite, they gave me a full scholarship. I only need to pay for my books, notebooks, and stationery.

After the incident, no one from the government visited our home to express sympathy. Only people from the Enlightenment Movement came, which helped relieve our pain and suffering a little. One of my dreams is to study Medicine and fulfill the wish of my brother, martyr Sadiq, because this is the only thing I can do to follow his pathway for the sake of justice.

On July 23, 2016, two suicide bombers denoted their explosives among the protesters at Dehmazang Square in Kabul, the capital city of Afghanistan. The protesters, who were primarily Hazaras, were part of the Enlightenment Movement. They were protesting against the diversion of the TUTAP mega power project which would cause the project to bypass Hazara-dominated areas. At least 84 protesters lost their lives and 260-400 others were injured. The Islamic State of Khorasan Province (ISKP), the regional branch of ISIS, took credit for the attack. However, ISKP later refuted their involvement in the attack.

The Enlightenment Movement, also known as Junbesh-e Roshnayie, was a grassroots civil disobedience movement started by Hazaras in Afghanistan in response to a change in the Fichtner GmbH & Co. KG proposed Energy Supply Improvement Investment Program, unofficially called TUTAP project plans. The change in the project plans would cause it to bypass Hazara regions. The move was seen as perpetuating long-standing anti-Hazara discrimination. Throughout 2016 and 2017, the Enlightenment Movement coordinated large-scale demonstrations against discrimination both domestically in Afghanistan and abroad.

He Was Hit by Two Bullets

Narrator: Mohammad Arif Mohammadi (brother)

Victim: Mohammad Hanif Mohammadi

Date of the incident: 23 July 2016

Location of the incident: Dehmazang, Kabul City

From his early childhood, Mohammad Hanif had been a very intelligent boy. My parents preferred him over us, his three brothers, because of his good manners and intelligence; they were more invested in him. He was two years older than me and the third son in the family.

We had studied a little in winter schools. In 2002, after the Taliban government fell, my father enrolled him in a high school. I don't remember exactly, but I think he was enrolled in the fourth grade. In 2004, he entered the sixth grade. At the beginning of the year, we both went to school together, but I was in the second grade.

When he graduated from elementary school, there was no middle school or high school. So, we both started studying in the same class at an institute called the Fast Training Institute, delivering fast-tracked courses. We did 6th grade and enrolled in a high school named Palej. Since it was far from our neighbourhood, we had to rent a room near the school and did the 7th grade there.

Then we returned to the countryside where there was a newly built high school an we were able to continue our studies. After his graduation, Mohammad Hanif Mohammadi taught grades 9 to 12. Because he was a very friendly and kind person, the local people and his students still remember him fondly and loved him very much. He greatly helped the students and was a capable person. This last winter, when I went home with martyr Hanif, a friend was sitting in his shop. When he saw us, he got up and invited us to have a cup of tea and called the martyr with the title teacher. I told my friend to call him an engineer because he was doing his third year in Engineering. My friend smiled and said, “He has taught our children for three years and deserves to be called a teacher.”

The martyr was very fond of sports and was a big football fan, and enjoyed playing football. When we moved to Kabul to prepare for the entrance exam, on top of his studies, he was practicing Muay Thai/Thai boxing. He continued this sport up to the time of his death. We participated in the first round of the Enlightenment Movement's demonstrations, and those days went without incident. When the Movement held meetings at night, we attended the meetings together. Both of us lived in the Polytechnic dormitory and our rooms were opposite each other. In the first year, we lived in the same room but in the second year, we lived in different rooms with our classmates. One night, the Movement organized the ‘Light Night’ event. He came to my room and wanted me to attend the event together. I agreed, and we both participated. It lasted until 10 pm and then we returned to the dormitory. Following that, we went home and returned to Kabul with our mother. One of our houses is in Daikun-di and the other house is in Kabul. We were four brothers and one sister; my two older brothers work and are responsible for the household income. The martyr, me and my sister all studied medicine; were were all students. By the grace of God, my parents are alive. That's how we all live together.

When the exams started, my mother wanted to return home. The night before the demonstration, my mother asked me to get a ticket for her so she could go back home. I called martyr Hanif and wanted us to accompany my mother back home for the night because she was traveling to Daikundi the next day and the exams were not too demanding. We both went to see my mother. The next day, when our exam was over, we returned to the dormitory and my mother returned to Daikundi. He then came to me and said, “I have a lot of work to do; I have a project and I still need to finish my typing work, so give me a hand.” That day, by chance, I had taken my exam and had free time in the afternoon. His typing work was about 200 or 300 pages. Then we both went to his room and jointly completed the work by 2 am. On the day of the demonstration, he had to take an exam and defend the project on which we had worked the night before. He departed from the Polytechnic University with the other students. I also joined a group of students and we arrived at Dehmazang Square at 11 o'clock. There, two more classmates joined us.

It was very hot. I told them we had an exam the next day, so it was better to go to the dormitory. They had had their lunch, but I hadn't. They went to their rooms and I went to the university cafeteria to have lunch. After lunch, I went back to my room, and not even 5 minutes had passed when my roommates suddenly learned through Facebook that there had been an explosion in Dehmazang. Because my brother had gone there without me, I didn't even realise that he would be there. My friends said he had had an exam and the project defence. His exam would have been over by 1 or 1:30pm. I really did not think my brother would be there. I instantly remembered that my cousin was there and I called him and asked where he was. He said that he was in the eye hospital in Afshar and next to him was so and so. I told him I would come there immediately. I called my brother's phone but he didn't answer. Since his room was opposite mine, I called him. One of his roommates said he was not in the room and that he had gone to the demonstration with his classmate Hassan.

I asked him when had he gone to the demonstration, he said, “He returned from the exam session, had his lunch, prayed, and, together with Hassan, they went to Dehmazang.” His classmates knew about the incident and took him to Aliabad Hospital. However many times I called my brother's number, he did not answer. I did not know why no was picking up the phone. At that moment, his other classmates tasked each of us to visit a different hospital. They asked me to go to the Aliabad Hospital because they knew my brother was martyred and might be there. I went to Karte Mamorin, took a taxi, and tried to get to the hospital. When I called his phone, he answered and told me to come to the hospital, but the roads near the university were closed, so I had to run to the hospital. When I got there, at first, they wouldn't let me in. I got very angry and got into a fight with a policeman, so then they allowed me to go into the hospital. I searched all the emergency rooms, but my brother was not there. We went straight to the morgue. It was full, and they had left 20 bodies on the wet dirty ground near the morgue. We searched there but did not find my brother. When I entered the morgue, my brother was on a bed. He was not hit by shrapnel but by two bullets. A bullet hit his right knee and another bullet hit the left side of his chest, exactly in his heart. They were three classmates, only one of whom survived. My brother and his other classmate were killed during shooting.

One of his classmates who survived explained: “We were not close to the vehicle or the explosion. When the explosion happened, all three of us ran to the back. We suddenly fell on the ground and then got up and started running again. I moved away from the area and did not see what happened to them next.” My brother was shot from the front, and another bullet hit his leg. His classmate was hit by a bullet in his leg and another in his back which penetrated through to his chest. Both were martyred.

On July 23, 2016, two suicide bombers denoted their explosives among the protesters at Dehmazang Square in Kabul, the capital city of Afghanistan. The protesters, who were primarily Hazaras, were part of the Enlightenment Movement. They were protesting against the diversion of the TUTAP mega power project which would cause the project to bypass Hazara-dominated areas. At least 84 protesters lost their lives and 260-400 others were injured. The Islamic State of Khorasan Province (ISKP), the regional branch of ISIS, took credit for the attack. However, ISKP later refuted their involvement in the attack.

The Enlightenment Movement, also known as Junbesh-e Roshnayie, was a grassroots civil disobedience movement started by Hazaras in Afghanistan in response to a change in the Fichtner GmbH & Co. KG proposed Energy Supply Improvement Investment Program, unofficially called TUTAP project plans. The change in the project plans would cause it to bypass Hazara regions. The move was seen as perpetuating long-standing anti-Hazara discrimination. Throughout 2016 and 2017, the Enlightenment Movement coordinated large-scale demonstrations against discrimination both domestically in Afghanistan and abroad.

That Afternoon, They Brought His Body Home

Narrator: Gholam Abbas (uncle-in-law)

Victim: Ali Ahmad Hamdard

Date of the incident: 23 July 2016

Location of the incident: Dehmazang, Kabul City

Martyr Ali Ahmad was a decent and well-mannered boy. He attended school up to 8th grade. Afterward, he served in the National Army for almost 12 years. He moved from Bamyan to Kabul nearly 13 years ago. He was from Bamyan province, Takht Varas region, and was nearly 23-years-old. He was a faithful boy and was martyred in the Dehmazang incident. A year had passed since his marriage, but he had no children. The living conditions of his wife are not good, but she has honored their ties and is still living in Kabul.

He has a brother who is in Iran. Everyone is busy with their own lives, and that's why his wife is living a difficult life with a salary of 5 thousand Afghanis and a rented house. However, because of the her husband’s kind treatment of her, she continues to endure all the problems on her own. We have lovely memories of the martyr. He kept everyone happy and satisfied by treating them well. He never spoke loudly or frowned at anyone. Even on the day of the demonstration, he left the house smiling and joking. But later that same day, in the afternoon, they brought his body home.

On July 23, 2016, two suicide bombers denoted their explosives among the protesters at Dehmazang Square in Kabul, the capital city of Afghanistan. The protesters, who were primarily Hazaras, were part of the Enlightenment Movement. They were protesting against the diversion of the TUTAP mega power project which would cause the project to bypass Hazara-dominated areas. At least 84 protesters lost their lives and 260-400 others were injured. The Islamic State of Khorasan Province (ISKP), the regional branch of ISIS, took credit for the attack. However, ISKP later refuted their involvement in the attack.

The Enlightenment Movement, also known as Junbesh-e Roshnayie, was a grassroots civil disobedience movement started by Hazaras in Afghanistan in response to a change in the Fichtner GmbH & Co. KG proposed Energy Supply Improvement Investment Program, unofficially called TUTAP project plans. The change in the project plans would cause it to bypass Hazara regions. The move was seen as perpetuating long-standing anti-Hazara discrimination. Throughout 2016 and 2017, the Enlightenment Movement coordinated large-scale demonstrations against discrimination both domestically in Afghanistan and abroad.

Human flesh was everywhere, there was blood everywhere

Narrator: Rohullah Raha (brother)

Victim: Enayatullah Hooman

Date of the incident: 23 July 2016

Location of the incident: Dehmazang, Kabul City

My brother was 25 years old. We are four brothers and he was our third brother. He was born in Malestan, in the remote district of Ghazni province, and he completed high school in the same district. During his school years, the quality of schools and education was low. He completed his schooling with a lot of difficulties; there was no classroom or proper facilities they attended school under a tent, and, all the while, he had to work. Since he was young, he was very interested in theatre and writing; he always tried to write or even perform in theatres. He wrote several plays and performed many of them. I have them recorded.

He was very interested in Dari literature and was a very quiet and good-natured person. When someone spoke at home, he would actively listen. He had a good sense of humour. Even now, after his martyrdom/death, my grandmother remembers him and says: “whenever I was sad, he would sit next to me and say something to try to make me laugh.” My grandfather and parents, always reminisce about his kind personality and sometimes miss him very much.

We used to move back to our village in the winters when boys would come together. He was charismatic because you could see all the boys gather around him, and they were all talking happily. He would joke with some and have fun with others. In short, I could say that the people of the village were very fond of him and his kind manners and became very attached to him. After his martyrdom, an elderly man from our hometown would tear up every time he saw me or one of my brothers. With a lump in his throat, he would say that he remembered Inayatullah whom he loved more than his own son. The man recounts how he use to try to be the first one to visit Inayatullah every time he would come to the village.

My brother was fond of volleyball and was always eager to write. That is why he was admitted to the literature department of Herat University. As he studied at university in Herat, he also worked as a teacher in a private high school called Resalat. He would frequently mention his interest in studying and teaching literature. Sometimes he wrote poems and short stories. After he graduated, for he searched for a good job in Kabul for a few months, but unfortunately, he did not find a good position, so he returned to Ghazni and started teaching in a school near our hometown. After a year, my father insisted Inayatullah return to Ghazni. My father believed that he should study a more practical trade, as there was not a lot of demand for a Dari literature specialist. He was interested in studying dental prosthodontics and was interested in getting a scholarship to study abroad. Unfortunately, he did not achieve any of his goals.

He was not very interested in social issues, but when he moved to Kabul, he became more aware the cruelty and injustice inflicted on our people and the need for justice. So, he always tried to participate in the meetings of the Light Movement. He not only participated in the events organized by the Movement but also encouraged his friends to take part in them.

The night before the demonstration, he learned through Facebook that the demonstration of the 23rd of July might be canceled. He kept following the news until 1 or 2 am. I woke up at 12 am and noticed that he was awake. I asked him why he was not sleeping. He said he should find out whether there will be a demonstration the next day. He called me early in the morning and told me to get up, and have breakfast so that we all attend the demonstration. Looking at my busy schedule, I was not interested to participate in the demonstration but, because he insisted, I chose to participate.

He was very happy that day. When Martyr Inayatullah, my niece, and I arrived at the Mosala, he expressed his happiness even though there were few participants; he said we will remain at the protest until the very end. We had put on yellow hats with “Balanced Development and Justice” labeled on them. From the moment we moved from Mosala to Baba Mazari Square, he kept taking photos and posting them on his Facebook page. By the time we arrived at Dehmzang Square, it was very hot and most of the protestors were tired. I told my niece and Inayatullah that I wanted to go to my room to have lunch. I invited them to join me and said we would come back after lunch. No matter how much I insisted, Inayatullah refused and said that he would get a burger and stay with the protestors. When I got to my room, my friends learnt through Facebook that an explosion had happened in Dehmazang. I kept calling my brother but he did not pick up his phone. My friends called me when they heard the news, they were very worried. I started making my way back to Dehmazang. The worst memory I have from that day is that when I arrived there, human flesh was strewn everywhere although the wounded had already been transferred to hospitals. There was blood everywhere and pens stained with blood could be seen on the road.

This tragic incident took away an enlightened and educated generation. Someone called me from the hospital and said: “your wounded brother is in the hospital, get here immediately”. The situation was chaotic; cars were not moving, I had to run all the way to the hospital. When I got there, many people were standing behind the hospital gate and no one was allowed to enter. Some people started shouting and we forced our way into the hospital. The first thing I saw was the list of wounded people pinned on the hospital door. I read the list three or four times to see if Inayatullah’s name was there but I couldn't find it. With great difficulty, I entered the building and searched every single emergency room, but I could not find him. I don't remember exactly what was going on. I noticed they were transferred a body to another room, I followed them and found 16 bodies there. At this point, I had probably only seen a single dead body in my life, but there seeing 16 bodies was horrifying. I checked the bodies of the martyrs three or four times, but I could not seem to find my brother. Just as I was about to leave the room, I noticed his clothes; his phone and other belongings had been placed on his chest. It is hard to describe how I felt. I recognized his body by looking at a pack of chewing gum. He bought it in the morning, gave some of it to us, and kept the rest for himself. His face had not changed much; it had become paler. It was easy to notice that he had lost a lot of blood. After we received the body from the hospital, we transferred him to Ghazni province. We moved and buried him in Malestan district out of insistence by my grandparents.

On July 23, 2016, two suicide bombers denoted their explosives among the protesters at Dehmazang Square in Kabul, the capital city of Afghanistan. The protesters, who were primarily Hazaras, were part of the Enlightenment Movement. They were protesting against the diversion of the TUTAP mega power project which would cause the project to bypass Hazara-dominated areas. At least 84 protesters lost their lives and 260-400 others were injured. The Islamic State of Khorasan Province (ISKP), the regional branch of ISIS, took credit for the attack. However, ISKP later refuted their involvement in the attack.

The Enlightenment Movement, also known as Junbesh-e Roshnayie, was a grassroots civil disobedience movement started by Hazaras in Afghanistan in response to a change in the Fichtner GmbH & Co. KG proposed Energy Supply Improvement Investment Program, unofficially called TUTAP project plans. The change in the project plans would cause it to bypass Hazara regions. The move was seen as perpetuating long-standing anti-Hazara discrimination. Throughout 2016 and 2017, the Enlightenment Movement coordinated large-scale demonstrations against discrimination both domestically in Afghanistan and abroad.

The Martyrdom of Abdul Rahim Was a Horrible and Ominous Occurrence

Narrator: Mohammad Ali Alizada (brother)

Victim: Abdul Rahim Alizada

Date of the incident: 23 July 2016

Location of the incident: Dehmazang, Kabul City

I have three brothers. Unfortunately, we have lost Abdul Rahim and now I have two brothers. I am the eldest son of the family and the Martyr was our youngest brother. He attended school up to sixth grade in the Varas District, in the Province of Bamiyan. Back then, when we lived in Varas, the local school was not of a good standard as it lacked teachers. The martyr, Abdul Rahim, attended both modern and religious schools. His teachers were very happy with him because he was a good student in all areas. He would always get top grades at school. His hard work inspired our move to Kabul. Another reason for our move was that we did not own any agricultural land in the village and our financial situation was not very good. In Kabul, we rented a house in Chindawol, near the Ashiqan Arefan Mountain. Abdul Rahim attended the Ashiqan Arefan High School up to 8th grade. Later, he was transferred to the Abdul Rahim Shahid High School where he studied up to 12th grade. With the small amount of money we had saved through years of labor, we bought three Biswas of land (a traditional measure of land) in Dasht Barchi. Following his graduation from high school, he took the public university entrance exam and was admitted to the Law Department of Bamiyan University.

In Bamiyan, we lived together. He used to attend classes, but he was not satisfied with the classes or the teachers. One day, he told me that he wanted to return to Kabul to get a good quality education. In addition, he was worried about our parents. He was very fond of my parents and they, too, loved him very much because he always prayed on time. It may be hard to believe, but he was a young man who could complete the recitation of the Holy Quran within a week. When I discussed the matter with my parents, they agreed that we should return to Kabul.

My other brothers do not live with us; we live separately. One of my brothers has a good financial situation, and when he noticed that Abdul Rahim had talent, he enrolled him in Goharshad University, where that brother had studied Economics for four years. The martyr and I lived with my parents. Some nights, when I went out of my room, I noticed the light in Abdul Rahim's room was still turned on. When I would go to him, I could see him sitting with a blanket on his feet, reading a book. Some nights, he continued reading up until 1 or 2 am because he was very interested in education and reading. That's why we all made sure he had access to everything he needed so he could get on with his studies in peace. We all love and respect our parents, but the Martyr was very different from us. He would talk to them, listen to them, and had a very close relationship with them both.

He was a sociable and good-natured person who was loved by all his friends and acquaintances. After he completed his work and his studies, he would come to our room at night with a book in his hand. I have three children and he would help them with their school assignments, read books to them, and check their homework. He always advised them to study so they could have a better future. I have just a little education. I can only read and write. That's why he would use me as an example for them. My children attend both private and public schools. He always took time for each of them and asked them about their lessons. On the street where we live, he encouraged all the neighboring children to pursue their education.

During Nowruz this year, we suggested to him that he should get married and start a family. He refused and said, “I need to stand on my own two feet first, improve my financial situation, and find a good job. Only then could I think about choosing a wife. Furthermore, our parents have aged and need more care. I can't take care of them properly, let alone get a wife.” But our father insisted, saying, “I have lived for 93 years. I have lived my life and I wish to see you build a family and become the owner of your life. I owe you this and I want to get it off my shoulders. I have enough money to help you start a family and it would put my mind at ease.” He accepted my father’s wish and got engaged. He got married on the 15th of Sha’ban (22 May 2016). After his wedding, he tried hard to find a good job but did not find anything suitable. In the Tabassum Movement [the grassroots movement created after the execution of 9-year-old Shukria and 6 other Hazara in November 2015], he was the first person to encourage our people to come together. He said that it was our inalienable right to advocate for our innocent travelers. He started working, running a shop to provide for his family. He used to work in the shop until 9:00 PM and would come home late. After he was killed, when anyone knocks at our door at 9 o'clock in the evening, we automatically think he has come home.

Before the demonstration, Abdul Rahim had called his father in-law's house and said, "Your daughter has not visited your home since her marriage. I got a job and I'm going to Baghlan. If you are available today, come and collect your daughter." He was just kidding. His father in-law said, “Why didn't you tell me earlier, it is 12 o'clock at night, and it is not possible for me to come for my daughter today.” My brother insisted that they should come on that same night because he and his friends were planning to go to Baghlan for work the next day.

My wife recounted how he had performed ablution, prayed, read some verses of the Holy Quran, and had taken a piece of paper and written: “If I get martyred in tomorrow's demonstration, bury me on Haji Nabi Hill.” He had taken a photo of himself out of an album and had said, “print this photo on my tombstone.” He even pointed out that “Haji Hossain will not do this. When Muhammad Ali returns from Iran, give him my photo and tell him to engrave the photo on my tombstone.” He specifically asked my wife “not to tell my parents anything about this and ask my wife to live with my parents for a while and if I get a share of my father's inheritance, to give some to my wife.” My wife then got angry with him, and told him, “Have you gone crazy?” She even tore up the photo he had given her. Abdul Rahim Alizada got upset then, and said, “I am sure that, God willing, I will be martyred tomorrow.” My wife was angry and told him that instead of saying such nonsense, he should have been with his wife that night. She asked him to stop talking about such things. Abdul Rahim even told my son, “I am not crazy. Your mother is crazy; I gave her my photo to be engraved on my tombstone, and she tears up the photo. If your father calls, tell him ‘My uncle asks us to bury him in Haj Nabi Town and put his photo on his tombstone.’” My wife begged him not to join the demonstration.

I called him to tell him that there had been a failed coup in Turkiye some time ago. I told him the situation was not good, and that God forbid an incident might happen. On the day of the demonstration, Abdul Rahim left the house, pretending he was going to work at the shop. He told my father, “I am going to see my mother and nephew in the shop.” Once he was there, he asked my mother to go home and have her breakfast. When my mother was about to go home, he bade her farewell and held her hand, and told her, “Forgive my sin, my dear mother.” When my mother saw the tears in his eyes, she got angry and told him, "What is happening to you today, I won't forgive you. Go and drink tea and don't talk nonsense." When my mother moved away from him, he asked her again to forgive him. My mother said her heart was shaken. He went to my mother and she hugged him and kissed his face and said she forgave him and pardoned him as a mother. He then told my mother, “Now that you have forgiven me, I feel lighter.” Then, he and his friends went to join the demonstration.

Back then, I was in Iran. I was following the protests through Facebook. I called him at 9 am, and he answered my call. There was so much noise in the background, with people chanting slogans for justice. We were not able to talk for long, and he said, “I will call you later. I can't talk now.” We hung up the phone. I called him at 12:45 pm. He said that the weather was hot and they wanted to set up a tent. He said he was holding a tent pole in one hand and a phone in the other hand. He said his mobile phone battery was low and could be dead anytime. He said that if the demonstration continued, they would set up a tent. Otherwise, they would go home. I was working as a guard in Iran and I usually rested for a few hours during the day so that I would be fresh for the night. Just before I wanted to rest, my uncle called me and said that there had been an explosion in Kabul. I hurriedly turned on the TV, but the antenna was not working. In that moment, I sensed that I would never see Abdul Rahim alive again. I felt so helpless; I was running around speechless.

I had put my phone on charge in the room, and I was searching for it. My [maternal] cousin, who was working with me, noticed my bewilderment and asked, "What are you looking for?" I told him that I was looking for my phone as I wanted to make a call to Kabul. He told me that my phone was charging in the room. I had lost the ability to walk. I told him to bring it to me quickly. He brought my phone and I called both Abdul Rahim’s phone numbers but he didn't answer. I called my other brother but he didn't answer either. I called home but no one answered. I asked my cousin to call a travel agency and get a ticket for me. “I am going to Afghanistan tomorrow,” I said. When he saw my nervousness, he asked what had happened. He said, “You have only been here a month, why do you want to go back already?” But when he saw my distress, he called the travel agency to send me a ticket via their employee.

I was getting dressed when my [paternal] cousin called me. I was so distressed as I talked to him, he asked me what had happened. I told him there had been an explosion in Afghanistan. He said that explosions and suicides attacks were a daily occurrence in Kabul and Afghanistan. With difficulty, I managed to explain to him that there had been an explosion close to where the demonstrators were. When he heard that, he said, “I will be there in five minutes.” The employee of the travel agency brought me the ticket. My cousin arrived, took me to the terminal, and I travelled to Afghanistan.

When I reached my brother Hossain by phone, he explained that Abdul Rahim had been injured and was in the hospital. I opened my Facebook app, and noticed that one of my brother's classmates from Sarab (Ghazni), had posted a note on his Facebook page: “Abdul Rahim, one of my university classmates is injured and needs blood.” My eyes were full of tears. I could not see the mobile screen properly. My cousin took the phone off me, and when I got the phone back from him, I could no longer find that page. I asked him what he had done with that post. He said that the post itself had disappeared; he did not do anything.

I called my son. When he answered the phone, I could hear crying in the background and I knew then that Abdul Rahim was dead/martyred. After that, I don't remember how they took me to the terminal. Everything was incomprehensible to me. After some time, my cousin told me to get out of the car. When I regained my senses, I found myself in front of my brother's house. I went inside and saw a lot of shoes behind the door. I passed out then, and when I regained consciousness, I found myself in my uncle's arms. He was crying and comforting us at the same time.

The martyrdom of Abdul Rahim was a horrible and ominous occurrence for all of us because he was very dear to the whole family. My parents still cry so much when they remember him and I cannot console them. Some time ago, when I was reciting the Holy Qur'an, I found a hand-written piece of paper. I can’t read and I saw there were a few signatures on the paper. I called my son and told him, “Take this piece of paper to your uncle, Abdul Rahim, to read it. I don't know what is written on it.” My son cried out, telling me, “Dad, my uncle, Abdul Rahim, was killed and is no longer alive.” Our family will forever be in pain for losing Abdul Rahim. This pain will never leave our hearts.

On July 23, 2016, two suicide bombers denoted their explosives among the protesters at Dehmazang Square in Kabul, the capital city of Afghanistan. The protesters, who were primarily Hazaras, were part of the Enlightenment Movement. They were protesting against the diversion of the TUTAP mega power project which would cause the project to bypass Hazara-dominated areas. At least 84 protesters lost their lives and 260-400 others were injured. The Islamic State of Khorasan Province (ISKP), the regional branch of ISIS, took credit for the attack. However, ISKP later refuted their involvement in the attack.

The Enlightenment Movement, also known as Junbesh-e Roshnayie, was a grassroots civil disobedience movement started by Hazaras in Afghanistan in response to a change in the Fichtner GmbH & Co. KG proposed Energy Supply Improvement Investment Program, unofficially called TUTAP project plans. The change in the project plans would cause it to bypass Hazara regions. The move was seen as perpetuating long-standing anti-Hazara discrimination. Throughout 2016 and 2017, the Enlightenment Movement coordinated large-scale demonstrations against discrimination both domestically in Afghanistan and abroad.

My son had consciously participated…for the Sake of Justice

Narrator: Mohammad Anwar (father)

Victim: Zohair Nazari

Date of the incident: 23 July 2016

Location of the incident: Dehmazang, Kabul City

My son was born in 1992 in Maidan Wardak province, Hesa-e 2 of Behsud, in the Kajab region, in the village of Mirazar. He attended school there up to grade 6, after which we moved to Kabul. He attended the Ghazi High School in Karte Char for three years, then we moved to Barchi. After that, he attended the Homayoun Shahid High School where he graduated from grade 12. He got his diploma from the same school. He eagerly prepared for the university entrance exam at the Nazar Zalmai educational center. After passing the entrance exam, he was accepted at the University of Education, in the Faculty of Psychology. During his studies, he was teaching at the Ibn-e Sina University. My son had deliberately participated in the Light Movement demonstration for justice and was unfortunately martyred in the tragic incident on the 23rd of July. He was martyred at the age of 24 for the sake of justice and defending his rights.

On July 23, 2016, two suicide bombers denoted their explosives among the protesters at Dehmazang Square in Kabul, the capital city of Afghanistan. The protesters, who were primarily Hazaras, were part of the Enlightenment Movement. They were protesting against the diversion of the TUTAP mega power project which would cause the project to bypass Hazara-dominated areas. At least 84 protesters lost their lives and 260-400 others were injured. The Islamic State of Khorasan Province (ISKP), the regional branch of ISIS, took credit for the attack. However, ISKP later refuted their involvement in the attack.

The Enlightenment Movement, also known as Junbesh-e Roshnayie, was a grassroots civil disobedience movement started by Hazaras in Afghanistan in response to a change in the Fichtner GmbH & Co. KG proposed Energy Supply Improvement Investment Program, unofficially called TUTAP project plans. The change in the project plans would cause it to bypass Hazara regions. The move was seen as perpetuating long-standing anti-Hazara discrimination. Throughout 2016 and 2017, the Enlightenment Movement coordinated large-scale demonstrations against discrimination both domestically in Afghanistan and abroad.

My Heart Is Bleeding

Narrator: Mohammad Hasan Qasimi (father)

Victim: Jawad Qasimi

Date of the incident: 23 July 2016

Location of the incident: Dehmazang, Kabul City

In the name of God

My son's name is Jawad Qasemi. He attended the Asif Mayel school in Nazer Qala up to the fourth grade. My son the martyr served in the sixth police district for 6 years. He did not serve for robbery and looting, but for the safety of his countrymen. He and his commander and sixty of his colleagues were assigned to maintain security during the demonstration, but then the explosion happened. The soldier who stood next to my son told me the story: “Our commander was hit by shrapnel, then Jawad fell to the ground and was martyred a moment later.” Thus, he left me, his mother, and his wife all alone. It had been only three months since the wedding and his wife was pregnant.

He had asked us to choose a girl for him from among our relatives - we are from Daikundi. At his request, we chose a girl for him from there. After my son's martyrdom, I am careful to be considerate of his wife so she does not get upset and unhappy around us. Now we are awaiting his child’s birth, so that we can raise him into a good person. He will be the symbol of my martyred son.

I have faced many difficulties in my life. I would like to thank those who organized this workshop. Here we can open our hearts and get a little bit of relief from the pain. It is not only my son who was martyred in this incident; many young people sacrificed their precious lives in this way. After Jawad's martyrdom, many problems have arisen for me. Due to the sadness of missing him, I start shouting in the front yard at night and talking to myself. When I miss my son too much, I call him but I don't hear an answer, and this adds to my grief. A while before the demonstration, he came to me to get a haircut. When I was cutting his hair, my hands were shaking, that's why I told him, “I'm old now and I don't have the strength I used to have, what will I do if you're not there?” Javad replied, “I will take care of you as long as I am alive.”

His wife had gone to the countryside to visit her family. A week in her trip, the Dehmazang incident happened. I asked her to come back home because an incident had happened to my son. She came back to Kabul with her father. A week later, my daughter-in-law’s father returned to his home. His wife is currently living with us. May God never bring an incident like this to any other family. Ashraf Ghani is our president, but he is not competent. He has sold himself and his people to America.

When the incident happened, Jawad was transferred to the Qala-e Nazer Mosque. I went to the mosque, and asked Mohseni, the mosque Imam, if they had taken my son's body there. When I saw Jawad's dead body, I screamed and cursed Ashraf Ghani, Abdullah, Mohaqeq, Khalili, and Sarvar Danesh. I cried and said, “People's children are martyred, you are inconsiderate. Why did you not ensure the security of our people? Why did you leave our people alone? Aren't you the government? Is it not your duty to ensure the security of the country and its people? You are puppets and have committed great treason against your people.” We must unite; Pashtuns, Hazaras, Tajiks, and Uzbeks must unite and not allow the enemy to divide us. If our government is corrupt, we should not allow anyone to encroach on our land. We must protect our country, which is like our honor. We must be vigilant.

See what Mohaqeq and Khalili did to their people? They spilled the blood of our young people and abandoned us. If you are currently in power, it is only because of the people's support. Sarvar Danesh was our neighbor in Daikundi and Jawad had served him, but what did he do to my young boy? I have lost my senses. I hope my story and sharing my grief does not upset you. My heart is bleeding. I lost my young boy; his wife is pregnant and she has lost hope. She is enduring hardships because of us and because of losing her husband. After Jawad's martyrdom, the government told me to bring his documents from Daikundi. On the way there, a conflict was going on between two villains named Musa and supporters of Sheikh Anwar, and yet the government did not intervene. There is no proper government in Daikundi and there, everyone is his own master. In such conditions, poor and powerless people are being abused. Thank you again for tolerating my rambling speech.

On July 23, 2016, two suicide bombers denoted their explosives among the protesters at Dehmazang Square in Kabul, the capital city of Afghanistan. The protesters, who were primarily Hazaras, were part of the Enlightenment Movement. They were protesting against the diversion of the TUTAP mega power project which would cause the project to bypass Hazara-dominated areas. At least 84 protesters lost their lives and 260-400 others were injured. The Islamic State of Khorasan Province (ISKP), the regional branch of ISIS, took credit for the attack. However, ISKP later refuted their involvement in the attack.

The Enlightenment Movement, also known as Junbesh-e Roshnayie, was a grassroots civil disobedience movement started by Hazaras in Afghanistan in response to a change in the Fichtner GmbH & Co. KG proposed Energy Supply Improvement Investment Program, unofficially called TUTAP project plans. The change in the project plans would cause it to bypass Hazara regions. The move was seen as perpetuating long-standing anti-Hazara discrimination. Throughout 2016 and 2017, the Enlightenment Movement coordinated large-scale demonstrations against discrimination both domestically in Afghanistan and abroad.

This Incident Broke the Back of our People

Narrator: Khairun-Nesa (mother)

Victim: Mohammad Joma Abdullahi (Wafa)

Date of the incident: 23 July 2016

Location of the incident: Dehmazang, Kabul City

We are from the village of Sayed Ahmad in Ghazni Province, Jaghori District. For a while, my son attended the Kharbid School in our district. He graduated from Soltani High School in Sangmash. Then he came to Kabul, took the university entrance exam, and started studying at Gawharshad University. For almost five months, he went to Iran and worked and lived with his brother there. He then came back to Afghanistan. My son was highly active. He was a front-row activist of the "Tabassom Movement," and entered the Arg [the presidential palace in Kabul], staying with the people there until late into the night. When the Shah Shahid incident took place [7 August 2015], he had helped a lot of people. He would always read books and treated everyone well. He had friends from the Tajik, Pashtun, Uzbek, and Hazara communities.

The night before the demonstration, he gathered his friends at his brother's house and encouraged them to take part in the next day’s march. His brother's wife and I were in Jaghori. He had called his sister to go to his brother's house and prepare food for him and his friends. Given the hot weather, he had put water bottles in the refrigerator in preparation for the demonstration the next day.

On the day of the demonstration, he and his brother had left the house, putting the water in a bag. His brother recalled that the weather was hot and my son joked with his brother, saying that he would not give him any water from his pack; he should drink water from the well. When his friends told him they were not thirsty but hungry, he gave them money to buy food. His friends then told Mohammad Juma that they were being sarcastic and did not need his money. While talking with his friends, he received a call. He stood up and walked a few steps away from them, and that is when the explosion happened. When I heard about the explosion, I immediately called him. He had three phones. I called all three of his numbers but he didn't answer, and his phones were switched off. We immediately left for Kabul and arrived at 8 o’clock that night. I went through difficult moments. I can never erase his memory from my mind.

My son worked hard, but all his efforts produced no result, and God took him from me. He was 26-years-old, very young. Around Eid days, he would go to Jaghori. He would then visit Malistan in Ghazni Province with his friends. From there, he would go to Alawdal and take pictures in different places to keep as a memory of the past. Then he came to Kabul and told me: “My dear mother, now it's your turn to go to Jaghori, to rest and have some fun.” I travelled to Jaghori with his brother, but it was not long before we heard of his martyrdom. He had a factory. He paid for food for his workers, except during the month of Ramadan when they did not get food. His workers and friends loved him very much. He left me alone with my grief. Every moment I remember him, my heart breaks. I cry and wait patiently, wishing I was gone with him so I do not have to bear this pain alone.

The life story of Khairun Nesa, mother of martyr Juma

I suffered so much in my life. I tried hard to ensure my child could study. I worked on people's land and endured people's taunts for the betterment of my child's future, but, in the end, the government killed our youth and ruined our lives by not protecting people’s security. There have been ups and downs in my life, but this attack broke the back of our people. In our hometown, I used to go to the plains to collect grass for animals to enable my children to study. I sent my two sons to Iran but chose to send Mohammad Juma to school. For a while, I sent him off to Kharbed. He knew that all of us had the dream that he would build his future. That was why he worked so hard and always achieved success.

I sent him to Sangamasheh in Jaghori district for a while to get an education. For university, I sent him to Kabul. He studied at a government institute and completed his studies at Gawharshad University. On the day of the incident, I was in Jaghori. They informed me that my son was wounded in Dehmazang. By the time I arrived, he had met his death. I don't expect anything from the government because the government itself is the cause of ruining our families.

On July 23, 2016, two suicide bombers denoted their explosives among the protesters at Dehmazang Square in Kabul, the capital city of Afghanistan. The protesters, who were primarily Hazaras, were part of the Enlightenment Movement. They were protesting against the diversion of the TUTAP mega power project which would cause the project to bypass Hazara-dominated areas. At least 84 protesters lost their lives and 260-400 others were injured. The Islamic State of Khorasan Province (ISKP), the regional branch of ISIS, took credit for the attack. However, ISKP later refuted their involvement in the attack.

The Enlightenment Movement, also known as Junbesh-e Roshnayie, was a grassroots civil disobedience movement started by Hazaras in Afghanistan in response to a change in the Fichtner GmbH & Co. KG proposed Energy Supply Improvement Investment Program, unofficially called TUTAP project plans. The change in the project plans would cause it to bypass Hazara regions. The move was seen as perpetuating long-standing anti-Hazara discrimination. Throughout 2016 and 2017, the Enlightenment Movement coordinated large-scale demonstrations against discrimination both domestically in Afghanistan and abroad.

He Was Hit by Three Bullets

Narrator: Qasim (friend)

Victim: M. Hussain Mohammadi

Date of the incident: 23 July 2016

Location of the incident: Dehmazang, Kabul City

In the name of God

I am a friend of martyred Mohammad Hussain Mohammadi. He was from Ghazni province, Qarabagh district, from the village of Zardsang, known as the Faiz Mohammad Kateb village. He was born there, lived there, and was taught in a religious school until he went to school.

When he enrolled in a public school, his family moved to the city of Ghazni. He completed his schooling at the Ghazni High School. When he graduated from 12th grade, he traveled to Iran, where he worked as a tailor. He lived there as a migrant worker for several years before returning to Kabul. He started a series of other activities in Kabul. He and his brother rented a building near the neighbourhood of Kote Sangi in Kabul and started working there. After a while, they got a cosmetic shop in Zadran Market and started working there. Sometime later, he resumed his studies and enrolled in journalism at Ibn-e Sina University. Besides studying and working with his brother, he also worked at Fars News. Six months later, he took a position at the Population Registration Department and also worked for them in Herat. He was a pious, friendly, and compassionate person. He never upset anyone; he always treated people well. When he moved to Herat, he promised me that he would help me find a good job after I graduated from university. He was caring and ready to help his friends and support young people. After a while, he called me and said that a suitable vacancy was advertised in Herat, and it was fit for me. When I arrived in Herat, I called him as soon as I got close to the terminal. He and his colleague came immediately and took me to their office. I worked there for some time. During that period, he paid for all my expenses.

When he finished his work in Herat and returned to Kabul, we were in touch once or twice a week. He believed that youth should play a role in politics; that is why he participated in the demonstration on the 23rd of July, despite having his final exam that day.

That fateful day, his brother received a call saying that Hussain had participated in the rally. They didn't know about what had happened to him, but there had been an explosion in Dehmazang. When we called Hussain, his number was not in service. We called him again, and someone else picked up the phone and said the phone's owner was injured and was in the Maula Ali hospital.

I sent one of his brothers home and told him that if they asked him about Hussain, no one should reveal anything before an update was available. I went to the hospital with his other brother, but Hussain was not there, and his brother said to go look in Barchi hospital. We went to Barchi hospital but his name was not listed there either. I called his brother again, but he didn't answer the phone. A few moments later, his brother-in-law answered the call and said Hussain was in the hospital. They had found him. When I reached the hospital and saw his brother crying, and I thought Hussain must be badly wounded, but as I got closer, I saw Mohammad Hussain's coffin beside the wall. I felt terrible when I realized that I would never see Mohammad Hussain alive again.

Three bullets had hit him, and one of his hands was broken by the gunshot. It was a difficult moment. We informed the elders of the martyr's family, and after half an hour, we moved the martyr's body to Barchi and then departed for Ghazni, where we buried him the next day. Mohammad Hussain Mohammadi always said he would like to be martyred; he wanted martyrdom. On the day of the incident, he had put on his new shirt, and before leaving the house, he had said to his wife, "I am leaving the house today, but you must remember to take care of my children and yourself." He has a four-year-old son and a one-and-a-half-year-old daughter. When he was martyred, he was nearly 30 years old. He was a kind and friendly person who always encouraged us to study and was an avid reader. I have good memories of him; all his friends and colleagues loved him dearly.

On July 23, 2016, two suicide bombers denoted their explosives among the protesters at Dehmazang Square in Kabul, the capital city of Afghanistan. The protesters, who were primarily Hazaras, were part of the Enlightenment Movement. They were protesting against the diversion of the TUTAP mega power project which would cause the project to bypass Hazara-dominated areas. At least 84 protesters lost their lives and 260-400 others were injured. The Islamic State of Khorasan Province (ISKP), the regional branch of ISIS, took credit for the attack. However, ISKP later refuted their involvement in the attack.

The Enlightenment Movement, also known as Junbesh-e Roshnayie, was a grassroots civil disobedience movement started by Hazaras in Afghanistan in response to a change in the Fichtner GmbH & Co. KG proposed Energy Supply Improvement Investment Program, unofficially called TUTAP project plans. The change in the project plans would cause it to bypass Hazara regions. The move was seen as perpetuating long-standing anti-Hazara discrimination. Throughout 2016 and 2017, the Enlightenment Movement coordinated large-scale demonstrations against discrimination both domestically in Afghanistan and abroad.

My Father Became Interested in The Movement

Narrator: Qurban Ali (son)

Victim: Mohammad Juma Karbalaie

Date of the incident: 23 July 2016

Location of the incident: Dehmazang, Kabul City

My father, Mohammad Juma Karbalaie Mohammadi was born in 1957 in the village of Takhoi, in the Miramour District in Daikundi. At the age of 15 or 16, he migrated from Daikundi to Iran to escape poverty. My grandfather told me stories about the past. He recounted, “One night, I sent your father to a relative's house to do something, but he did not come back home that night. We searched everywhere, but there was no trace of him that night and the night after that. Then, I found out that your father had gone to Iran for work.” After my father returned from Iran, he explained how it had happened: “On a night, at the age of 16, I was sent to a relative's house to do something. From there, I got onto a truck with my friends and went to Ghazni; from there, a smuggler took us to Iran where we settled in Semnan.“ After some time, my grandfather had to travel to Iran with the rest of his family. There, my grandfather chose the daughter of one of his relatives as a wife for my father, which my father did not know about at the time.

My mother was his wife. Whenever my father talked about his happiest memories, he would recount this memory and I would listen to these stories with great enthusiasm. This is how it happened. One one day, my mother ran into my father and they both talked warmly because they knew each other and were related. During their conversation, my grandfather told my father, “This girl you are talking to is your fiancee and future wife.” My father used to tell me that he felt very shy when he heard that and that my mother’s face blushed. This meeting turned into a sweet memory. In Iran, my father first worked as a municipal employee. Later, he started working in building construction until he gradually gained credibility among people and became a skilled contractor.

My two sisters and I were born in Iran. We have both good and bad memories of living in that country. One of our worst memories of living in Iran was when my father fell from a building. It was a very serious accident and he was in a coma for a month. We prayed, cried, and lamented day and night. At that time, I was very young and I remember that every hospital we took my father to gave us a negative answer, and the doctors gave up hope of my father ever recovering. Three months after my father's injury, we got him dismissed from Imam Khomeini Hospital and took him to a relative’s house. That relative was a traditional bonesetter. When he checked my father’s head, he realised his head was injured, and told my grandfather that he would bind his son’s head. My father's condition had been very bad, but in a few days, his condition improved and God gifted my father to us once again. At that time, many of our relatives lived in Iran, and it was common that families visited Karbala. They all decided to wait until my father had recovered. After his recovery, my father was able to take us to Karbala.

I don't remember exactly, but I think it was in 2003 or 2004 when we returned to Afghanistan. I did not know anything about this place, none of our relatives and friends were there. We rented a house in the Kampany area and rented a grocery store which provided for the family's living expenses. My father worked as a supervisor in a company. Their job was to install telephone antennas in the central provinces. My father was a man of tact and foresight and he used to say that I should get a permanent job so that I don't have to worry about tomorrow. In 2010, when my sister graduated from the engineering faculty, they jointly established a construction company and were very successful in this venture. They worked with the Americans in Kandahar Province. They also had representatives in Herat and Balkh provinces. As his only son, we were very close and we always consulted each other on work issues. Then the issue of Tutap came up, when the Energy Supply Improvement Investment Program was rerouted to avoid the Bamiyan region and went through the Sailing Pass, which was seen as a discrimination against the Hazara people. My father participated in meetings of the Enlightenment Movement with great interest. He closely followed every issue related to the Movement as he sought justice for our oppressed people.

We both participated in the first demonstration of the Movement. When it was announced that there would be a demonstration on the 23rd of July, my father and I, along with a guest, were waiting for the 10:30 pm news hour on Negah TV channel. It was finally announced that the demonstration had been canceled. I was very busy in the office that day. I do clearly remember that my father went to a barber shop the night before the demonstration to get a haircut. The next morning, he woke me up early. He was wearing white clothes. I went to his office in Mosala, but I had butterflies in my stomach. That was why I would call his phone regularly and check how he was doing. At 7:30 in the morning, I called again and my father said, “There are very few participants at the demonstration. I will go back home to have breakfast, and then come back.” At 8:30, I left home and went to Mosala where I saw my father. I was keen to participate in the rally but since I had a huge workload, I could not. When he reached Dehmazang, I called him again and asked how he was. He said he was fine and I had to get him a tent, some water, and something to eat. I got a tent for him and took it to Dehmazang. He was near the hotel and was hungry. I asked him if he would like to have a kebab. He said that there were many people and it would be better to simply get him some biscuits. I bought water and biscuits for three people, gave it to them and went back to the office.

I did not hear the explosion. I was checking my phone when I saw that some of my friends had posted the news of an explosion in Dehmazang. I hurriedly called my father's number, but he didn't answer. I called one of my relatives and said there had been an explosion in Dehmazang. I said that my father was there, but he was not answering his phone. My relative said he would gather information. A few minutes later, he called and told me that my father was injured and that I had to get to Dehmazang quickly. I anxiously walked out of the office towards Dehmazang. All the roads were closed, and when I got there, I could not find my father. I called my relative again and he said they were in the Aliabad hospital and I had to go there. When I arrived at the hospital, I saw my father. A doctor was attending to him. My father was breathing through an oxygen mask. I was crying, and when the doctor noticed my distress, he said, “come and help me instead of crying.” I put my father on the bed with the help of the doctor, but the doctor's efforts were useless as my father was in a critical condition. He died a few minutes later. The hardest moment was when we took my father's body out of the hospital. We buried my father that night.

Injustice and ethnic prejudice were some of the reasons that pushed my father to get involved in the Enlightenment Movement. My father would always read books about discrimination and the monopoly of power and we enjoyed discussing these issues. I have so many memories of us. We would always try to go on business and family trips together, and more than being like father and son, we were like two companions or friends. We understood that our people’s problem is not only a lack of electricity, but discrimination against the minorities of this country and the concentration of political power. What our people demand is their inalienable right and an end to bullying. This is the starting point for a culture of equality. In this attack, we lost our loved ones, but we consider this struggle a starting point for mobilizing our people and our youth, and not a question of failure or despair.

My request to the government is that the power lines should pass through the route originally planned, because innocent people have died trying to defend their legal rights. As the son of a martyr who sacrificed his life for his people, I want us all to advocate, and in this way keep the names of the martyrs alive. As the son of a martyr, I face many difficulties. After the incident, I got into trouble with the bank. I went to the bank to get money, and they told me I should have an heirship affidavit to be able to withdraw any money from the bank. I could otherwise not withdraw money from my father's account.

The government and its bureaucracy gave us a hard time. I went to court, where they told me that I had to submit a letter to show whether the name of the martyr was registered with the relevant authority. I went to the office of the second vice president, got the list of martyrs that were registered there, and took it to them, but they refused to accept the list. Once again, I was sent back to the hospital to get a letter confirming my father's death.

Tell me, how can we trust the government and courts in this country, when they send us from one office to another for a signature and stamp, and still there is no result? When I completed all these steps, they told me I should go to the Martyrs and Disabled Department of Daikundi so that they could confirm that my father originated in that province, and so this could be registered officially. It takes time, and for me it is difficult to have time off work. Why did I have to travel this long and painful route, when it would have been possible simply to confirm my father's death in Kabul? Political leaders abused the trust of our people and abandoned us all to our fate. They are the accomplices of the massacre of our people. We will never forgive these crimes. My government and my leaders are all the traitors and murderers, of my father and of many other innocent people.

On July 23, 2016, two suicide bombers denoted their explosives among the protesters at Dehmazang Square in Kabul, the capital city of Afghanistan. The protesters, who were primarily Hazaras, were part of the Enlightenment Movement. They were protesting against the diversion of the TUTAP mega power project which would cause the project to bypass Hazara-dominated areas. At least 84 protesters lost their lives and 260-400 others were injured. The Islamic State of Khorasan Province (ISKP), the regional branch of ISIS, took credit for the attack. However, ISKP later refuted their involvement in the attack.

The Enlightenment Movement, also known as Junbesh-e Roshnayie, was a grassroots civil disobedience movement started by Hazaras in Afghanistan in response to a change in the Fichtner GmbH & Co. KG proposed Energy Supply Improvement Investment Program, unofficially called TUTAP project plans. The change in the project plans would cause it to bypass Hazara regions. The move was seen as perpetuating long-standing anti-Hazara discrimination. Throughout 2016 and 2017, the Enlightenment Movement coordinated large-scale demonstrations against discrimination both domestically in Afghanistan and abroad.

He Had Passed Away in The Hospital

Narrator: Mohammad Juma Rezaie (father)

Victim: Mohammad Naser Rezaie

Date of the incident: 23 July 2016

Location of the incident: Dehmazang, Kabul City

I originally come from Maidan Wardak province, in Central Behsud District, and currently live in Dasht Barchi, in the town of Mahdia. My son, Mohammad Naser, was 28-years-old and was born in the Hesa-e 2 of Behsud District in the province of Maidan Wardak. I attended religious school and was a farmer. Because there was no public school in our district at that time, we enrolled my son in a religious school at the age of 7. He studied there until the age of 19 and then moved to Iran when he was 20. He lived in Iran for almost 4 years and then returned to Behsud. Because of the dire economic situation, he stopped studying and joined me in labouring and farming. In 2006, we settled in Kabul with our family. After that, he started working in Kabul and used to attract customers to hotels and restaurants to earn money. On the day of the incident, the 23rd July, he was working in a hotel in Kote Sangi. That day, in coordination with his friends, he stopped work and went to Dehmazang to attend the demonstration. Unfortunately, my son and many other young people were martyred there by evil terrorists.

A few days before the incident, I had traveled to Behsud. I have a religious school there and had to manage the students' activities. The day after the accident, I traveled back to Kabul. My other son searched all the hospitals for his brother's body and found him in the 400-Bed hospital. The moment I got home, I was told that they had found Mohammad Nasser's body. They had not told me that he was wounded or martyred. I had not even drunk a single cup of tea when I got home. A lot of people and relatives were gathered at our house, and his mother was behaving very strangely. When I asked the family members, they told me that Mohammad Nasser was wounded. Three or four minutes later, my other sons informed us that they had found Mohammad Nasser's body in the 400-Bed Hospital. He was not killed in the explosion. Then he was taken to the emergency hospital, and it is not known if it was due to the severity of his wounds or heavy bleeding, but he died the next day on Sunday night.

On July 23, 2016, two suicide bombers denoted their explosives among the protesters at Dehmazang Square in Kabul, the capital city of Afghanistan. The protesters, who were primarily Hazaras, were part of the Enlightenment Movement. They were protesting against the diversion of the TUTAP mega power project which would cause the project to bypass Hazara-dominated areas. At least 84 protesters lost their lives and 260-400 others were injured. The Islamic State of Khorasan Province (ISKP), the regional branch of ISIS, took credit for the attack. However, ISKP later refuted their involvement in the attack.

The Enlightenment Movement, also known as Junbesh-e Roshnayie, was a grassroots civil disobedience movement started by Hazaras in Afghanistan in response to a change in the Fichtner GmbH & Co. KG proposed Energy Supply Improvement Investment Program, unofficially called TUTAP project plans. The change in the project plans would cause it to bypass Hazara regions. The move was seen as perpetuating long-standing anti-Hazara discrimination. Throughout 2016 and 2017, the Enlightenment Movement coordinated large-scale demonstrations against discrimination both domestically in Afghanistan and abroad.

Because of The Explosion, He Was Hit to The Curb

Narrator: Mohamad Naeem (brother)

Victim: Shah Wali Sharifi

Date of the incident: 23 July 2016

Location of the incident: Dehmazang, Kabul City

The Martyr was older than me. His job was welding, a trade he had learned in Iran. I don't remember anything about his childhood because he was older than me. During the reign of Dr. Najib, he used to work as a hawker in Halabi-Sazi alley. My late father had a bakery in Deh Naw, and my father had bought a vendor cart for my elder brother and Shah Wali, and they used to sell bread. The two of them studied up to 8th grade. The government at that time provided oil to the bakeries. When oil was no longer available, my father would go to Qourigh Mountains during his free time to collect bushes as fuel. One day, as he was in the mountains to collect bushes, he was martyred by a landmine. Back then, I was very young and I don't remember anything. Following that incident, none of my brothers could continue going to school. We were eight family members, and after my father's martyrdom, the expenses of the family fell on my elder brother’s shoulders. During the civil wars, our vendor cart caught fire and our life was ruined.

To provide for the family expenses, they used to dig flume which earned them 30,000 Afghanis in old currency. They sometimes sold beetroot and sometimes sold junk items until the Taliban entered Kabul. The situation was very bad, and that's why martyr Shah Wali then left for Iran, where he worked for three years. He was unemployed for a while until the Taliban government collapsed. Then he got a job at the American Embassy, where he received 18 hundred Pakistani Rupees a day. He worked there for almost 18 days. Back then, we had a shop in Goulai Dawa-Khana. Through work and struggle, our life gradually improved and he got married. He got a construction contract; he was very skilled in welding. Since he had seen tough times and poverty, he behaved well with the workers who worked for him and they all loved him.

When my father was martyred, Shah Wali was 16, or maybe 18-years-old. He saved some money by working in building construction. He used to buy land in District 13, build a house on the land, and sell it. His work did not go very well the past year and he became unemployed. He gave me some money he had saved and told me to go to Europe. I stayed in Austria for 10 months, but he kept calling me to come back. He said the economic situation of the family was not good and he could not provide for household expenses alone. I returned to Afghanistan eight days before Ramadan; he was very happy. When he saw me, he said, "Now that you are by my side, I have peace of mind." I told him, “you insisted on me going to Europe. I do not regret coming back, because you worked hard for all of us”. Before the incident and when he saw people’s enthusiasm, he encouraged me to participate in the 23rd July demonstration.

In our neighborhood, there was a real estate agency. He used to go there and encourage people to participate in the demonstration. He even argued with someone the day before the demonstration because the other party had told him that participating in the demonstration was useless and that something bad could happen. My brother told this man, “How longer should we stay silent? We must not remain silent when people do things against us. We should raise our voices.” His wife says, “On the day of the demonstration, he woke up early in the morning, took a bath, and asked me for his white clothes. I asked him whether he was going to a wedding wearing white clothes. I didn't give him the white clothes and even made a fuss and in the end, he didn't wear the white clothes. During the demonstration, we were together near Baba Mazari intersection. Near the flyover, they asked people through the loudspeaker to wait because some people had been left behind. After that announcement, he looked back and said to me, 'May God have mercy. This time, only the youth are here, few or no middle-aged or old people are here.' After that, we went separate ways."

It was very hot. I remained in Dehmazang until 12:30 but then moved closer to Cinema Barikot to sit in the shade. People were slowly dispersing. I came home at 1 o'clock. One of my brothers in-law had just come back from Austria and it had been a while since his mother had passed away. I called Shah Wali and said that it would be good if we went to our brother in-law’s house in the afternoon to offer Fatiha. He told me, "Right now, I am having lunch in an office near Dehmazang. Once the event is concluded, we will go there at 4 pm." I started going to my elder brother's house so we could go there together. At the same moment, my brother called me from Bamyan and said that there had been an explosion in Dehmzang. Before his call was disconnected, my elder brother called to say that Shah Wali was not picking up his phone. He called me a second time and said, “a criminal investigation officer answered his phone and said that Shah Wali was injured and they took him to Jumhuriyet Hospital by Kabul Ambulance.”

We immediately started moving; we drove up to Habibiya High School. One of my cousins said that they had taken Shah Wali to Ibn-e Sina Hospital, but he was not there. We walked to the Jumhuriyet Hospital. When we entered the building, looking through the building’s large windows, I saw Shah Wali on the hospital bed. He was not hit by shrapnel, but because of the explosion, he had been thrown to the curb. The moment we got to the hospital, they took him to the operating room. He was bleeding and needed blood. People were there for blood donation and gave him a bag of blood.

When I asked the doctor about his condition, he said, “Medically, he is not well. He needs a miracle and prayers, and there is nothing else we can do.” I called another doctor whom I knew and described Shah Wali's condition. He asked me if the wounded had vomited, and I said no. He said, “Thank God, don't worry, his condition will change.” As soon as I entered the room, I saw Shah Wali vomiting blood. I asked the doctor about it.

Although the doctor was not in a good condition and was worried, he said it was not a problem. Shah Wali's condition was still not good. At 4 am, I was sitting next to his bed in the hospital, and suddenly, I noticed that the monitor above his head started beeping and that the heart monitor graph turned off. That was when Shah Wali met martyrdom. He was 39-years-old at the time of his martyrdom. His eldest son is 13-years-old, and his other son is 1.5 years old. He also left behind a daughter.

On July 23, 2016, two suicide bombers denoted their explosives among the protesters at Dehmazang Square in Kabul, the capital city of Afghanistan. The protesters, who were primarily Hazaras, were part of the Enlightenment Movement. They were protesting against the diversion of the TUTAP mega power project which would cause the project to bypass Hazara-dominated areas. At least 84 protesters lost their lives and 260-400 others were injured. The Islamic State of Khorasan Province (ISKP), the regional branch of ISIS, took credit for the attack. However, ISKP later refuted their involvement in the attack.

The Enlightenment Movement, also known as Junbesh-e Roshnayie, was a grassroots civil disobedience movement started by Hazaras in Afghanistan in response to a change in the Fichtner GmbH & Co. KG proposed Energy Supply Improvement Investment Program, unofficially called TUTAP project plans. The change in the project plans would cause it to bypass Hazara regions. The move was seen as perpetuating long-standing anti-Hazara discrimination. Throughout 2016 and 2017, the Enlightenment Movement coordinated large-scale demonstrations against discrimination both domestically in Afghanistan and abroad.

I Wish the Light Movement Turns into An Influential Force

Narrator: Mohamad Yaseen Dawlat Shahi (uncle)

Victim: Ahmad Sharif DawlatShahi

Date of the incident: 23 July 2016

Location of the incident: Dehmazang, Kabul City

On 23rd July, I was preparing to take part in the demonstration. We live upstairs and Ahmad Sharif and his family lived downstairs; we all lived together. When I went downstairs, Ahmad Sharif was also ready. He had bathed, recited the Holy Quran, and offered prayers. We sat together at the table. My wife had prepared some french fries and we both ate a small amount. His mother put the remaining amount inside the bread and placed it in a plastic bag. She told Ahmed Sharif to take it with him because we would need it later. I put it in my bag, and he brought five bottles of frozen water. He joked with his mother, "Mom, do you think we are going to the desert that you put five bottles of water in the refrigerator for us?"

His mother said, “It is ok, you are not alone; others, too, may need water and drinking water may not be available at that time, so it is good to take these water bottles with you.” So, we put the water bottles in our bag and left the house. We had walked only a few steps away from the house when Ahmad Sharif looked back at me and said: "Uncle! The situation is not so good today. Try to stay close to us and not go far away." What I remember well is that he was talking like he had received information from someone indicating that the situation would turn bad that day. He even talked about death. I told him okay, Ahmad, do not worry, I will not leave your group today. We both arrived near Mosala. People had already gathered there. We were separated because someone from the People's Council of the Enlightenment Movement was looking for a person to oversee the generator they had set up for the stage.

No one accepted the responsibility Mr. Qalandari offered them, because everyone wanted to be actively involved in the demonstration. No one wanted to be inactive. I really felt sorry for him, so I went to him and said I would like to be in charge of the generator. I was stationed on the Kamaz truck from the beginning to the culmination of the demonstration, and up to the time of the explosion. It was parked close to the Dyna truck. The Kamaz truck moved two minutes after the explosion. During the demonstration, he would come to me, sometimes to drink water. Ahmad Sharif came to me about 15 or 20 minutes before the explosion and said, "Uncle, give me water." He even joked with his close friends and said, “We brought water for ourselves and we will not give it to you.” He and his friends drank the water. The event organizers were also sitting on the truck. He went towards them and said, “You sit here, all sides have been abandoned and the police have left. People are entering from every direction, and it is not clear who is who. The ice cream cart has entered the crowd. It's better that you get up and start enforcing order. God forbid, someone may get inside and decide to do something.” It was the last time I saw him. It was prayer time and Mr. Behzad passed by the Kamaz truck. Music was playing from inside the vehicle. He wanted them to stop the music and call people to gather for prayer.

Because it was very hot, there was not enough mineral water for everybody, and that's why the group suggested bringing a water tanker. They insisted that Ahmad Sharif should go for the water tanker, but he refused it because he didn't want to leave the impassioned stage of justice. Finally, they called someone else to deliver a tanker of drinking water. The water was not yet delivered when the incident happened; he was distributing food and water. When the explosion happened, some people were inside the truck. When they heard the explosion, they wanted to jump out. I told them to wait for a few minutes. God forbid, but another explosion could happen when they jumped out. People waited for a minute or two while others fled the scene. When we got out of the vehicle, an injured person near the vehicle was in critical condition. He said to me, “Please help me, I am dying.” I told him, God forbid, you won't die. I went to him, took him under his arm, and moved him to a different location, and helped him lean on something. I told him to wait there and that I would go get an ambulance for him.

I was helping the wounded and had no idea about the fate and condition of Ahmad Sharif. I was sure he had pulled himself out of that situation. After some time, I thought it would be good to call him to see how he was doing. I kept calling him, but the network said it was busy. Since he didn't answer my call, I got suspicious. I got a call from home. They said, “there was an explosion in Dehmezang, where are you?” I told them that I was helping the wounded at the site of the explosion. They asked about Ahmad Sharif. I told them I tried calling him, but he did not pick up his phone. After a while, the wounded and martyrs were picked up from the road and transferred to different hospitals. We went to Esteqlal Hospital. When I got there, I called his number again. Someone answered the phone, and I realized that it was one of the administrators of the hospital. He asked me how I was related to him. I told him that I am his uncle. He asked me to go meet him. When I went to see the person, he informed me of Ahmad Sharif's martyrdom.

Ahmad Sharif was a member and co-founder of the Afghanistan Victims’ Families Organization. He had lost his father for earning freedom. During the former Soviet reign, he graduated from one of the police academies as the top performer. Under Hafizullah Amin’s reign, he was pulled out of his house with his hands and feet tied and then killed. At that time, Ahmad Sharif was in his mother's womb and his older brother was just two-years-old. He had never met his father. The same thing happened to Ahmad Sharif’s daughter; she never got to see her father. Ahmad Sharif's 40th day of martyrdom had passed when his daughter was born. She did not get to see her father. He was the head of Afghanistan's Young Elite Generation. He was a sociable and friendly person. He was my main source of motivation in civic activities. To be honest, he would force me to attend meetings and encourage me to work for justice and peace.

Ahmad Sharif had obtained a master's degree. He studied at Ibn-e Sina and Kateb universities. It was almost three months since he had been appointed as a specialist in the Literacy Department of the Ministry of Education. After his martyrdom, all his colleagues shed tears for him even though he had just been appointed. This is the life of our people. But we are all proud, and even his mother is proud and says she is happy that Ahmad was martyred in the way of justice, freedom, and righteousness. He has two daughters named Setayesh and Parastesh. One of his friends showed me their private conversation in which Ahmad Sharif had told him, “I wish the Enlightenment Movement turns into an influential force in our society. Then, I won’t regret it if I am martyred or killed.”

On July 23, 2016, two suicide bombers denoted their explosives among the protesters at Dehmazang Square in Kabul, the capital city of Afghanistan. The protesters, who were primarily Hazaras, were part of the Enlightenment Movement. They were protesting against the diversion of the TUTAP mega power project which would cause the project to bypass Hazara-dominated areas. At least 84 protesters lost their lives and 260-400 others were injured. The Islamic State of Khorasan Province (ISKP), the regional branch of ISIS, took credit for the attack. However, ISKP later refuted their involvement in the attack.

The Enlightenment Movement, also known as Junbesh-e Roshnayie, was a grassroots civil disobedience movement started by Hazaras in Afghanistan in response to a change in the Fichtner GmbH & Co. KG proposed Energy Supply Improvement Investment Program, unofficially called TUTAP project plans. The change in the project plans would cause it to bypass Hazara regions. The move was seen as perpetuating long-standing anti-Hazara discrimination. Throughout 2016 and 2017, the Enlightenment Movement coordinated large-scale demonstrations against discrimination both domestically in Afghanistan and abroad.

He Never Tasted Peace and Tranquility in His Life

Narrator: Marzia (mother)

Victim: Mohammad Zaki Nayebi

Date of the incident: 23 July 2016

Location of the incident: Dehmazang, Kabul City

I am the mother of martyr Zaki Naibi. He was born in 1991 in Maidan Wardak Province, Hessa Du, Behsud District, in Qol Khesh Village. We moved to Kabul when he was seven years old. He started going to Ismail Balkhi school in Sarkariz and attended this school until 9th grade. Then, he enrolled in a school in Karte Se, where he completed the 12th grade. Due to our bad economic situation, he worked in a metal workshop at the same time as he was going to school. His workplace was in Dehburi.

During his school years, he was a diligent, calm, well-mannered, and talented student. He couldn't attend his school certification process, because of his work at the metal workshop. But since he was a calm and kind boy, his teacher, along with the top student in the class, who liked Zaki, completed the admin work and obtained his certificate. He never spoke in a loud voice to me or his father at home. He and my other son who is 14-years-old were very calm compared to my other children. I am very happy with him.

We lived in poverty and destitution. He aspired to become a helpful person to assist himself, his family, and his people in the future and to improve our living conditions, but his wish did not come true. His death left me and his father in pain. Another son of mine is now in prison because of a conspiracy by some people. He doesn't even know about his brother's martyrdom. Zaki was the breadwinner of the family. When his brother asks about Zaki, I say Zaki has gone to Turkey. I say some people donated money, and we sent him to work in Turkey. He insists we should give him his phone number so that he can talk to him on the phone. I make excuses, saying he lives in an area without mobile network coverage. His salary was 1,800 Afghanis. He used to take 300 Afghanis to pay for his education and the rest he would give to me. When I remember the hardships he went through, my heart burns because he never tasted peace and tranquility in his life.

On holidays, his cousins and friends would go out on excursions, but he said he had to work to make our lives better, and that work was fun. On Fridays, when they would call him to go somewhere to have fun, he would say, “I only have Friday. You go. I can't come because I'm very tired and I don't have enough time for fun.” He always made excuses. Talking to me, he would say, "Mother, where should one go to have fun when one has no money?" When he would return home from work, he would not sleep until 10 o'clock at night. When the 10 pm news hour was over, he would have a chat with his father and then go to sleep.

My son had many dreams but in his life, he never achieved any of them. He got engaged to his cousin almost three months before his death, but this dream never came true and he left us alone, filled with sorrow. On the day of the demonstration, before he left home, he took a bath, put on his clean pants and blouse, said goodbye to me, and then he left the house. I did not know that he was going to attend the demonstration because when I asked where he was going, he said he was going to work and would not take part in the demonstration. The night before, he had talked to his cousin and friends until 11:00 p.m. and encouraged them to participate in the 23rd July demonstration. He went with his cousin. At lunchtime, his cousin went to have lunch, but Zaki did not join him. He spoke with me until 1 pm; he even said we should do something to get Zia released. I didn't know when the incident happened. His aunt called me and asked if my sons were home. I said everyone was at home except Zaki who is at work. His cousin and aunt knew that he had gone to Dehmazang. Following the suicide bombing, his cousins and aunt left their house to look for Zaki. When they called me, they only mentioned Zaki's name and then hung up the phone. I kept calling them, but they did not answer the phone.

A few minutes later, my daughter received a message. She told me, “Mother, Zainab says Zaki does not answer her calls, I am worried.” My little son and I left the house and visited Zaki's workplace. The owner of the shop, who was Zaki’s boss, said, “He did not come to work today.” I saw my nephew leave the shop, and asked him, “Hamid Jan, did Zaki come to the shop today?” He told me, “To be honest, today Zaki did not come to work.” My nephew stopped his car in front of the shop and said, “Aunty, come and get in my car.” He dropped us off at Kot-e-Sangi. His father who was a porter had gone to work that day. My nephew called Zaki's father and said, “Uncle, get home.” My husband, Zaki’s cousins, and I all searched for Zaki until 2:30 am. I saw martyrs, but my son was not among them. We searched all the hospitals until almost 3 in the morning, but did not find my son. So we returned home. After taking a cup of tea, the others rested for a bit, while I offered prayer. My husband and his nephew also stayed up till dawn. Then early in the morning, his father and I went to visit Abul Fazl pilgrimage and returned home.

His father asked Zaki's sister, “What was Zaki wearing yesterday?” She said he was wearing a blouse with English writing on it and white pants. That night, his father knew that Zaki was martyred, but he didn't tell me anything and told me that he was arrested and imprisoned by the police. Together, we left the house for Wazir Muhammad Akbar Khan Hospital. Everyone already knew my son had been martyred. When we arrived at the hospital, his father did not enter. I was waiting a little further away. When I noticed everyone's unusual condition, I started crying. Zaki's cousin informed my husband of my son's martyrdom when he came out of the hospital building. My husband started beating himself when he heard the news. My other nephew grabbed my husband’s clothes and tried to console him, and said, “Uncle it is a lie; Zaki is alive.” I was in a terrible condition; I was screaming and crying. My two sisters who were with us held my arms and tried to calm me down. I was crying and telling them that I will find my Zaki, he cannot be dead.

One of the soldiers felt sorry for me and said, “Your son is wounded; you are not allowed to meet him, please calm down.” I kept screaming and crying. I checked the list but could not find Zaki’s name. Together with my sister, we went to another section of the hospital. When I entered, there were too many martyrs. My son was not among them. They had printed pictures of the martyrs. Looking at all those young martyrs, I too hit myself and then I fainted.

When I came to, they had laid me on the grass and were pouring water on me to bring me back to consciousness. When they noticed my distress, one of the soldiers asked for martyr Zaki to be brought to his mother. We took him to the mosque first to give him a bath. In the mosque, I learned that his head and back were injured and he was bleeding severely. One of his sisters didn't know about Zaki's martyrdom, she was still at home. When she heard, she cried a lot. Even now, when I remember our terrible, difficult living conditions, my heart burns, thinking that my son did not live a good life. He said to his father, “You should not work as a porter anymore; you have done enough.” His father always takes painkillers before going to sleep due to the huge loads he carries in his job. He used to tell his father, “I wish I had enough money to treat you.” He always said, “Mother, I wish to continue my studies so that the future will change for all of us.” But his wish was not realized.

Zaki studied up to 12th grade but could not continue his education because of economic problems. First, he was an apprentice at a carpet weaving workshop, then he started doing metal work. One day, he injured his eye while working with an electric wire and screwdriver, and lost his eyesight in that eye. He would always say he could not do manual work because of his eyesight. He believed he had to study so he could change his life. He was very fond of sports and played football with his friends. He participated in the demonstration to defend the rights of his people and said that the people’s rights should not be violated.

Since my son was martyred, I have not been feeling well; I have become forgetful. His sister, who was close to Zaki, doesn't cry. She doesn’t even talk about her brother, she just says, “I should eat pepper to forget Zaki's sorrow.” The night before the incident, when Khalili withdrew from the demonstration, Zaki was very angry and said Khalili abused his own people by leaving them alone like this. After his martyrdom, Khalili went to everyone's house to offer Fatiha, but he did not come to our house. Mohaqeq came to our house and this made us happy. My husband said, “Khalili, despite being from my tribe, did not visit us and did not offer Fatiha for my son, I will never forget this and it hurt me.” Zaki was a kind-hearted boy. We buried him in Pul Khashak cemetery. And so long as I remain alive, we will follow in his pathway, will not sit quietly, and will raise his voice. We thank you for remembering the families of the martyrs and keeping the memories of our martyrs alive.

On July 23, 2016, two suicide bombers denoted their explosives among the protesters at Dehmazang Square in Kabul, the capital city of Afghanistan. The protesters, who were primarily Hazaras, were part of the Enlightenment Movement. They were protesting against the diversion of the TUTAP mega power project which would cause the project to bypass Hazara-dominated areas. At least 84 protesters lost their lives and 260-400 others were injured. The Islamic State of Khorasan Province (ISKP), the regional branch of ISIS, took credit for the attack. However, ISKP later refuted their involvement in the attack.

The Enlightenment Movement, also known as Junbesh-e Roshnayie, was a grassroots civil disobedience movement started by Hazaras in Afghanistan in response to a change in the Fichtner GmbH & Co. KG proposed Energy Supply Improvement Investment Program, unofficially called TUTAP project plans. The change in the project plans would cause it to bypass Hazara regions. The move was seen as perpetuating long-standing anti-Hazara discrimination. Throughout 2016 and 2017, the Enlightenment Movement coordinated large-scale demonstrations against discrimination both domestically in Afghanistan and abroad.

He Consciously Participated with Interest and Great Passion

Narrator: Mohammad Reza Moballegh (Uncle)

Victim: Asadullah Hussaini

Date of the incident: 23 July 2016

Location of the incident: Dehmazang, Kabul City

Asadullah Hussaini was born to a scholarly and religious family in 1995. He was born in Ghazni Province, Nahor District, in the village of Jerghai Borjegai. Asadullah was the second child of the family. He had four sisters and an 11-year-old brother. He graduated from the Imam Hossein High School in our village. In addition to going to school, he also attended religious studies in the mosque. I hold many memories of him because we grew up together since childhood. With the establishment of the new government, after the collapse of the Taliban, our people showed great interest in education, and Asadullah, too, started getting an education. He was very talented.

He was a tolerant, very religious, committed, good-mannered and sociable boy whom people loved deeply. Despite having limited access to facilities, he continued his studies. When I would go home from Kabul, I was very happy with his remarkable progress and would encourage him. With all the many deprivations and limitations in our region, he was able to successfully complete the 11th grade at school. His father's poor financial situation did not allow him to come to Kabul and continue his studies. So, when I went to Ghazni, I told his father that it would be better for Asadullah to come to Kabul and start preparing for the university entrance exam.

I agreed to pay the costs for his first year. My financial situation was not good either because I was a student too, but by teaching in educational centers, I used to pay for both of our expenses. Asadullah studied hard in the first year. Despite the many problems, he spent the winter of that first year in Kabul and went to Ghazni in the spring. In the second year, when he returned to Kabul, his academic progress was very good. He got a mark of 315 in the entrance exam and was accepted into the Faculty of Computer Science at Kabul University. He also worked hard at university and took his studies seriously. He was diligent and flexible and could quickly adapt to any new environment. He could easily make new friends. Asadullah and I worked together on Thursdays and Fridays to pay for our education. I would always recall the memories of the holy month of Ramadan. Both of us worked under the hot sun on our holidays to be able to pay for our living costs. In addition to his studies, he worked and even provided for his father's expenses. His father was not in a good financial situation and could not provide for him. Instead, when Asadullah earned some money, he would send it to his father.

He was a kind and understanding person. He was pained by the poverty of his father and the deprivation of his people. That's why he studied hard and encouraged young people and children to study. Naturally, when a person learns and understands more about life, he does not stop trying. As he matured, and realised the reason for the difficulties he saw around him, he decided that he should not remain silent. The deprivation of his people pushed him to participate in social and justice seeking activities. The creation of the Enlightenment Movement paved the way for Asadullah to launch his advocacy activities. He always believed that a Hazara, too, is an Afghan and should enjoy equal citizenship rights. Others should respect them as human beings and not violate their human rights. He always said: “God has created man free and no one has the right to disrespect man and his dignity unjustly.” He was very motivated to fight against oppression and injustice. He attended the meetings of the Movement and always tried to raise the voice of the oppressed people on social media. The Enlightenment Movement itself was not the main purpose; what led us to this movement was the quest for justice and the pain of the Bamiyan cave dweller who has no food. The pain of the old man who works hard from dawn to dusk to get a piece of bread for his family, with no one else paying any attention to them.

The youth who were in Dehmazang Square on the 23rd of July lost their lives for a noble cause: justice for an oppressed people. On that day, Asadullah took his exam and then went to Dehmazang. The martyr had many dreams. He always said he should serve his parents, return to his village, and help the children and teenagers, serving his people with heart and soul to repay the debt he owed them. He consciously participated in the demonstration, with interest and great passion. Even though the night before they announced that the next day’s demonstration was cancelled. We all learned that our elders and leaders had let their people down. Our youth did not remain silent, but participated in the protest with more enthusiasm. But the government betrayed our people and our leaders also abandoned us.

On the day of the incident, it was announced that some people were planning to stay the night in Dehmazang Square. Asadullah went there to get the event organizer's ID badge when the explosion happened. As soon as the suicide attack happened, the situation changed. I immediately called his number, but he did not pick up. I was very worried, so I called him again. He finally answered his phone and with great difficulty, said that he was injured and that was in the hospital. He was transferred to the Ibn-e Sina Hospital where conditions were very bad. The rooms and hallways were full of the wounded and of martyrs. It was like doomsday. No one recognized anyone, and the hallways of the hospital were full of blood. When I got to the hospital, I first mistook someone else for my nephew. The doctor told me that he needed an IV injection. I quickly ran to get the injection but when I returned to the hospital, I realized that the injured person, who was in a very bad condition, was not Asadullah. I later found my nephew but he was taking his last breaths. His condition deteriorated and he passed away.

Losing a young person is painful. This incident was very difficult; it was excruciating for us. He was a special person to his family because he did not give up despite many problems and always tried his very best. That night, we could not take his body back to Ghazni because the roads were unsafe. The next day, we, friends and close relatives, took him to Nahor, to his parents and buried him there. Clearly, what made our youth seek justice was the suffering of a nation, not the pain of an individual. The suffering caused by the circumstances and the despots who always try to suppress and intimidate our people. This is the pain of the destitute and oppressed people of Afghanistan, who have always been dominated by force and coercion. The Martyr’s family worked hard to raise their children and make a meagre living and manage their affairs. His father is now the sole breadwinner of the family and his children are mostly girls. The family's hope was in Asadullah. His father sent him to Kabul to study and change their living condition, but the incompetent government took the life of our beloved Asadullah. I wish the living conditions of my brother's family would improve.

The emotional state of his family is not good. His mother is still restless and his father sheds tears as he remembers him. I still do not dare to pass through Dehmazang Square. When I think about Asadullah, I see him in my dreams at night and relive the incident as a nightmare. We will never forget this incident and our family will mourn forever. We had many memories together. At night, when I want to sleep, I unconsciously see his image and I struggle to go to sleep, and feel restless. Our life has fallen apart after Asadullah's martyrdom and we are unable to console his parents. The life they are living now is not life but pure pain and suffering - that's it. May God bless you for working hard to fulfill this human responsibility so that the martyrs of the Enlightement Movement who went to Dehmazang Square for justice, will not be forgotten.

Abdul Rauf Nouri, Asadullah Hossaini’s friend:

Asadullah and I had rented houses in the same neighborhood. We had a cultural association in Ghazni, in the district of Nahor. We used to go there every year during the university break to organize reading competitions, sports contests, and mock university entrance exams. The martyr was an active member of this association and he eagerly taught teenagers and children. What made him dear to everyone was that he talked to everyone with a smiling face. The night before the demonstration, the wife of the martyr’s uncle had asked them not to participate in the 23rd July demonstration because there were rumours among people that the security situation might be dangerous. On the day of the incident, he had not seriously decided to participate. He was at university for the exam. After the exam, he and his cousin went to work. Both were working in a tile factory to pay for their living expenses. Asadullah went to Khushal Khan and worked until noon. He had recently bought a mobile phone and had activated his mobile internet. During work, he talked to Ibrahim, his cousin, about people gathering in Dehmazang and the ongoing protest.

After the incident, Ibrahim Hossaini recounted the story: “Asadullah was regularly checking his Facebook page and reading the news about the demonstration to me. He said, ‘I wish I was there to actively take part in it.’ After we finished work, we departed for Kot-e-Sangi. Asadullah insisted that we should go to Dehmazang and participate in the demonstration. But I told him that I was tired and wanted to go home. My mother had sworn that she would not forgive him if he went to Dehmazang. On the other hand, Asadullah insisted that we should go there. Finally, I made an excuse and said that I didn't have any change, and I had to go home, but he said, ‘Don't worry, I have 50 Afghanis in my pocket.’ Because he insisted, we got into a minivan and went to Dehmazang. When we arrived there, some people had left for home and others were away to have lunch, so the morning crowd had dispersed.”

On July 23, 2016, two suicide bombers denoted their explosives among the protesters at Dehmazang Square in Kabul, the capital city of Afghanistan. The protesters, who were primarily Hazaras, were part of the Enlightenment Movement. They were protesting against the diversion of the TUTAP mega power project which would cause the project to bypass Hazara-dominated areas. At least 84 protesters lost their lives and 260-400 others were injured. The Islamic State of Khorasan Province (ISKP), the regional branch of ISIS, took credit for the attack. However, ISKP later refuted their involvement in the attack.

The Enlightenment Movement, also known as Junbesh-e Roshnayie, was a grassroots civil disobedience movement started by Hazaras in Afghanistan in response to a change in the Fichtner GmbH & Co. KG proposed Energy Supply Improvement Investment Program, unofficially called TUTAP project plans. The change in the project plans would cause it to bypass Hazara regions. The move was seen as perpetuating long-standing anti-Hazara discrimination. Throughout 2016 and 2017, the Enlightenment Movement coordinated large-scale demonstrations against discrimination both domestically in Afghanistan and abroad.

Hikmatullah Is Martyred and Asadullah Is Wounded

Narrator: Mariam (mother)

Victims: Hekmatullah Shafaie and Asadullah Shafaie

Date of the incident: 23 July 2016

Location of the incident: Dehmazang, Kabul City

On the day of the incident, before my sons left the house, I tried to stop them from going but they replied, “We are not going there to protest for electricity, but we are going to seek justice and defend our rights.” My eldest son Hekmatullah said, “Mother! We must shed our blood for justice and today we are going to sacrifice ourselves for this cause.” It made me upset. I asked them to at least have breakfast, but they refused. Before they left the house, my younger son, Asadullah, wanted me to give him some dried apricot. I put some dried apricot, roasted chickpeas, raisins, and some water bottles in their bags. Hekmatullah was 28-years-old and Asadullah was 15-years-old. This year, Asadullah observed the entire fasting month and prayed regularly. Before going out, I asked them again to change their mind, but they repeated their answer and said they wanted to participate in the demonstration and that I should join them and not be afraid. They said they were going to demand their right and justice. I explained that I had pain in my feet. They said they could walk slowly so I could keep up. After they left, I brought flour to the neighbor and set off to join them. No matter how fast I walked, I could not reach them. It was a very hot day. I arrived in Dehmazang Square around noon, where people had gathered.

People were giving out bottles of water, some dried dates, or pieces of bread. Some people came to us and said that it was better for us to get out of there and move somewhere else because it was hot and we would be troubled. We were sitting in a corner to drink tea when the explosion happened. I fell on my face and a girl fell on me. When I got up and looked behind me, the situation was terrible. I started screaming and hitting myself. There were three young boys there. I went to them and told them that my sons were there; I asked them to find my sons. At those moments, the police gathered and shook me and said that my sons were not in the crowd. They asked me to stop crying. We were arguing when the second explosion occurred. The police quickly took me closer to the zoo as I didn't know the area so well. I cried a lot. The police wouldn't let anyone near the square. A young boy helped me get the direction to my home, and I went home.

At that time, I did not know who had been killed and who had survived. When I got home, the neighbor's son came to me in distress and asked, “where were you, aunt? Everybody has been so worried about you.” When I entered the house, I noticed a lot of noise. When I took a seat at home, I was still not feeling well. Someone said that Hikmatullah had been killed/martyred and Asadullah was wounded. Hearing that, I passed out. The next day, at 10 am, they announced that Asadullah had been martyred too. They did not allow me to see their bodies and I never saw them again. I heard others say that Asadullah had been hit by shrapnel in the back of his head and Hekmatullah had many wounds on his body. Oh God, I wish I had been killed along with them and would not have endured this excruciating pain.

Since their martyrdom/deaths, my daughter cries and says, “Mother, who should I study with now? When Hikmat and Asadullah are not there, who will guide me? Why should I study? How can I tolerate their absence? Every time I go to the room to open a book, I remember them and I can't learn a single word.” Hikmatullah lived with us. He had just completed his studies and had found a job. He had a 7-month-old baby.

Asadullah was the top student at Marafet High School; he worked hard. When I went to his school and asked the teachers about his performance and behavior, they would say he was a role model, a very talented and hardworking boy, and was the pride of the school. Marafet school has an English department; he learned English there. He also studied English at the Muslim Educational Center. One day he told me, “Mother! Two more books are left and then I will complete the English courses.” It would make me feel very happy when I saw him studying. Hekmatullah encouraged him a lot; Hekmatullah would study with and guide Asadullah and his sister. Hekmatullah was a hero to all of us. He was a computer science instructor and solved everyone's problems. No one doubted his abilities. He studied with great interest and encouraged others to study too. God took them from me and did not consider us worthy of them. Every moment and every hour I wish I was killed with them. When they brought their bags home, they had not even eaten the apricot, chickpeas, and raisins. May God protect everyone against such grief. Only God knows how I feel. I have no more to say, I just have to be patient. Oh, it is very difficult and painful to lose two young children.

On July 23, 2016, two suicide bombers denoted their explosives among the protesters at Dehmazang Square in Kabul, the capital city of Afghanistan. The protesters, who were primarily Hazaras, were part of the Enlightenment Movement. They were protesting against the diversion of the TUTAP mega power project which would cause the project to bypass Hazara-dominated areas. At least 84 protesters lost their lives and 260-400 others were injured. The Islamic State of Khorasan Province (ISKP), the regional branch of ISIS, took credit for the attack. However, ISKP later refuted their involvement in the attack.

The Enlightenment Movement, also known as Junbesh-e Roshnayie, was a grassroots civil disobedience movement started by Hazaras in Afghanistan in response to a change in the Fichtner GmbH & Co. KG proposed Energy Supply Improvement Investment Program, unofficially called TUTAP project plans. The change in the project plans would cause it to bypass Hazara regions. The move was seen as perpetuating long-standing anti-Hazara discrimination. Throughout 2016 and 2017, the Enlightenment Movement coordinated large-scale demonstrations against discrimination both domestically in Afghanistan and abroad.

Shrapnel Had Struck His Head

Narrator: Murtaza DarvishZada (brother)

Victim: Abdullah Forotan

Date of the incident: 23 July 2016

Location of the incident: Dehmazang, Kabul City

Abdullah Forotan was born in 1998 and turned 18 this year. He was the best tempered of all of us and the youngest in the family. My father loved him more than any of us and my mother even more so. He was superior to us all in terms of his facial features and talents. We are Hazaras, and Abdullah was very good-looking, which is why my mother gave him the title of ‘Sayyid’. At the age of six, he joined my parents on a five-month trip to Iran. He completed primary and secondary education at Ayatollah Modares High School in Jaghori. He graduated high school as the top student. Last year, he participated in the entrance exam and got the highest score in our school. He was admitted to his favorite field: the engineering faculty of the Polytechnic University in Kabul. He performed very successfully in the first semester.

The Dehmzang incident ended his opportunities. Last winter, a futsal [football] competition was held in Jaghori in which our team, too, participated. Abdullah and I were players on the same team. In total, there were 36 teams participating in the competition. At the end of two-weeks of matches, Abdullah’s performance was recognized with an Award of Ethics. He was very different from us and this makes it very difficult for our parents. The night before 23rd July, he was in the Polytechnic University dormitory. I called him and said he should not take part in the demonstration the next day. I told him I would not take part either because the security situation was not good. He said: “You and I are not the only ones who know about the pain of our people. I will participate in the demonstration”. I told him to focus on his exam. I even told him that, at school, anybody could get the first position; the real man is the one who gets the first position at university. He told me he had taken all the exams, received their results and had scored the highest, and had only one exam left. He said, “Don't worry, I will not embarrass you and the family”.

He always was a source of pride. On the day of the incident, 23rd July, we took a photo together. Abdullah was taller than me and more talented. At around two o'clock, I went to Pole-Sorkh to have lunch. While I was eating, I received a call that said there had been an explosion in Dehmazang. We, four brothers, were all in Dehmazang. I called my three brothers, but none of them answered their phones. I got very worried and rushed to Dehmazang. When I got there, the police wouldn't let me pass. I was very angry and became worried. One of them even said that they will shoot me if I didn’t turn back. Because I was apprehensive, I said, "Shoot me, my blood is not thicker than others, and I am not better than them." When I got close to the site of the explosion, the situation was really terrible. I witnessed very terrible moments with my own eyes, it was extremely painful and difficult for me. I was running around to find one of my brothers, but there was no sign of them. The only things I could see were the limbs on the ground.

At the same moment, one of my brothers, who is older than me, called me and asked where I was. I asked him where Abdullah was. Talking with a sad tone, he said I should go to Ibn-e Sina hospital. I ran, rushing to the hospital. When I got there, it was full of blood, in all the corridors. I searched all the rooms but did not find Abdullah. I called my brother and said I couldn't find him; he told me to go and see the martyrs. When I went there, my legs felt paralyzed. Among the martyrs, the only thing I recognized was his pants. I didn't dare to look at his face; I came out of the room. After I felt a little bit better, I was about to go back inside when my brother called me. I told him that he was not among the martyrs; he insisted that I should search thoroughly. Once again, I entered the room where the martyrs were laid. The faces of most of the martyrs were burnt. Those moments became the worst memory for me. I still did not find Abdullah. When I left the room, they called that there was a list in the other room, but Abdullah's name was not there. My other brother came and said that he was going inside, thinking that maybe Abdullah's name was not listed by mistake. When he wanted to enter, they did not allow him. But somehow he did manage to get into the hospital. A few minutes later, I also got inside. I looked around and I saw my brother wailing.

I realized Abdullah's condition was not good. He was struck by shrapnel in his head. We immediately transferred him to Wazir Mohammad Akbar Khan hospital. For a week, he was in a coma in the hospital. During this time, his condition did not change; in an entire week, he did not even open his eyes. The doctor said: "The brain has been hit by shrapnel and needs to be operated on; the brain is severely damaged." I begged the doctor who operated on Abdullah to help me talk to the head of the hospital. His doctor said that some pieces of shrapnel were left in his head which they could not remove. He said “You would need an air ambulance to take him abroad and it would cost you three hundred thousand dollars. If you have the money, transport him out of the country so that his condition can be dealt with quickly”. Some of my friends in India found out about the incident and immediately called me to say they would send an air ambulance from India to transport Abdullah. They wanted me to provide them with a general report about Abdullah's condition so that they could take action. I got a report about Abdullah's condition from the doctor and sent it to them. They said we had to wait for a few days.

Our teachers were informed about the incident before the government took care of our patients. They [the teachers] visited us and completed the passport application, but transporting him to India was postponed. Then some NATO troops came to the hospital and said they will transport the wounded who were in a coma outside for treatment. I went to the head of the hospital and asked for information about that. He said no one’s name was listed yet. I realized we will be in trouble if I failed to act. I could speak a little English, and so I met and talked to some NATO personnel. After our discussion, they said they wanted to take Abdullah to Bagram Hospital. Within a week, Abdullah's condition did not improve. When the test results came from abroad, they were negative. So, the NATO people announced that they could not take responsibility for Abdullah’s condition during transportation. We signed a paper, took all the responsibility, and transferred him to Bagram. On the way, the oxygen balloons used for Abdullah ran out. All the moments I remember were painful. Upon arrival in Bagram, Abdullah was received by the American forces. On behalf of my family, I was there to accompany Abdullah, but they would not allow me to enter the hospital because I did not have an identification card on me.

As I was waiting, in the afternoon I received a call. They said they wanted to transfer Abdullah to the 400-bed hospital. I asked them why, and they said that the doctors were disappointed with the treatment because Abdullah's body was not showing any reaction. I had gone to get an ID card and I was wondering what to do. They told me to come and pick up Abdullah if I could make it to Bagram before 7 pm. I asked them to communicate the matter so they can wait until tomorrow and then we could transport him directly out of the country. I departed immediately and arrived there at 8 o'clock. They escorted me inside Bagram airbase. By 10:30 pm, I made it to Abdullah, but it was too late; When I got there, he was already martyred. It was very difficult to go through those moments.

Prior to that, my parents were in Jaghuri. Following the incident on 23rd July, I got a call and they asked me if we all were okay. I assured them that we were fine. They asked me about Abdullah and where he was. My mother was very worried and kept asking about Abdullah. She called me again and asked about him; I told her he was in the university dorm. The day after the incident, she learned that Abdullah was injured. She called me again. My mother had already talked to my elder brother and asked him about Abdullah and why his phone was switched off. My brother came to me and asked me to talk to my mother. When I picked up the phone, my mother worriedly asked why Abdullah had turned off his mobile phone. In response, I hardly managed to say two sentences. I said his phone is not working and he is currently in the dormitory. She couldn't take it anymore and wanted me to go to the dormitory immediately and tell Abdullah to talk to her. “I won't rest so long as I don't hear his voice”, she said. I waited for a while and my brother came to me and gave me the phone and said: “Speak and pretend you are Abdullah so that mom calms down”. It tortures me to remember those moments; it was very difficult to speak with my mother pretending to be Abdullah. I took the phone from my brother. I was feeling terrible; I tried to sound like Abdullah. When I heard my mother, I acted like Abdullah and said: “Hi mom, are you worried for me? I am fine”. My mother said: “Are you Abdullah?”. I said yes. She asked: “Abdullah, when you were home on leave, what did you have for breakfast the day you left for Kabul?” When I heard my mother saying those words, I felt I could not take it anymore. I forgot what I had to say and hung up the phone.

That same day, my parents returned to Kabul. When my mother visited the hospital, she learned that Abdullah was wounded. We told my mother that his leg was slightly injured so that she would not lose her spirit and her condition would not get worse. The truth was that he had shrapnel in his brain. I asked the doctor to talk to my mother so that she could calm down a bit because she did not believe me. Abdullah was in the ICU at that time and no one was allowed to visit him. The doctor told my mother that she was not allowed to visit him that day. My mother and I left the hospital. Friends and close relatives had gathered outside the hospital. My mother's blood pressure went up and she fainted.

My mother was hospitalized on one side of the hospital and my brother on the other side. It is very difficult for me to recall and describe those moments. When my mother returned to Kabul, I went to my sister's house in Barchi that same day to see my mother. On my way to the hospital, from Zer Zamini to Golbahar Center, I gave 1500 Afs as charity so that God might give Abdullah back to us. If I gave charity to one person and forgot another, I would immediately give the other one money. I thought they they might feel something in their hearts. Everyone who received the money prayed for Abdullah, but God took this great gift from us and did not consider us worthy of him. All of us were grieved. Life is very hard. It is very difficult to endure this pain.

On July 23, 2016, two suicide bombers denoted their explosives among the protesters at Dehmazang Square in Kabul, the capital city of Afghanistan. The protesters, who were primarily Hazaras, were part of the Enlightenment Movement. They were protesting against the diversion of the TUTAP mega power project which would cause the project to bypass Hazara-dominated areas. At least 84 protesters lost their lives and 260-400 others were injured. The Islamic State of Khorasan Province (ISKP), the regional branch of ISIS, took credit for the attack. However, ISKP later refuted their involvement in the attack.

The Enlightenment Movement, also known as Junbesh-e Roshnayie, was a grassroots civil disobedience movement started by Hazaras in Afghanistan in response to a change in the Fichtner GmbH & Co. KG proposed Energy Supply Improvement Investment Program, unofficially called TUTAP project plans. The change in the project plans would cause it to bypass Hazara regions. The move was seen as perpetuating long-standing anti-Hazara discrimination. Throughout 2016 and 2017, the Enlightenment Movement coordinated large-scale demonstrations against discrimination both domestically in Afghanistan and abroad.

Hikmatullah Is Martyred and Asadullah Is Wounded

Narrator: Mariam (mother)

Victims: Hekmatullah Shafaie and Asadullah Shafaie

Date of the incident: 23 July 2016

Location of the incident: Dehmazang, Kabul City

On the day of the incident, before my sons left the house, I tried to stop them from going but they replied, “We are not going there to protest for electricity, but we are going to seek justice and defend our rights.” My eldest son Hekmatullah said, “Mother! We must shed our blood for justice and today we are going to sacrifice ourselves for this cause.” It made me upset. I asked them to at least have breakfast, but they refused. Before they left the house, my younger son, Asadullah, wanted me to give him some dried apricot. I put some dried apricot, roasted chickpeas, raisins, and some water bottles in their bags. Hekmatullah was 28-years-old and Asadullah was 15-years-old. This year, Asadullah observed the entire fasting month and prayed regularly. Before going out, I asked them again to change their mind, but they repeated their answer and said they wanted to participate in the demonstration and that I should join them and not be afraid. They said they were going to demand their right and justice. I explained that I had pain in my feet. They said they could walk slowly so I could keep up. After they left, I brought flour to the neighbor and set off to join them. No matter how fast I walked, I could not reach them. It was a very hot day. I arrived in Dehmazang Square around noon, where people had gathered.

People were giving out bottles of water, some dried dates, or pieces of bread. Some people came to us and said that it was better for us to get out of there and move somewhere else because it was hot and we would be troubled. We were sitting in a corner to drink tea when the explosion happened. I fell on my face and a girl fell on me. When I got up and looked behind me, the situation was terrible. I started screaming and hitting myself. There were three young boys there. I went to them and told them that my sons were there; I asked them to find my sons. At those moments, the police gathered and shook me and said that my sons were not in the crowd. They asked me to stop crying. We were arguing when the second explosion occurred. The police quickly took me closer to the zoo as I didn't know the area so well. I cried a lot. The police wouldn't let anyone near the square. A young boy helped me get the direction to my home, and I went home.

At that time, I did not know who had been killed and who had survived. When I got home, the neighbor's son came to me in distress and asked, “where were you, aunt? Everybody has been so worried about you.” When I entered the house, I noticed a lot of noise. When I took a seat at home, I was still not feeling well. Someone said that Hikmatullah had been killed/martyred and Asadullah was wounded. Hearing that, I passed out. The next day, at 10 am, they announced that Asadullah had been martyred too. They did not allow me to see their bodies and I never saw them again. I heard others say that Asadullah had been hit by shrapnel in the back of his head and Hekmatullah had many wounds on his body. Oh God, I wish I had been killed along with them and would not have endured this excruciating pain.

Since their martyrdom/deaths, my daughter cries and says, “Mother, who should I study with now? When Hikmat and Asadullah are not there, who will guide me? Why should I study? How can I tolerate their absence? Every time I go to the room to open a book, I remember them and I can't learn a single word.” Hikmatullah lived with us. He had just completed his studies and had found a job. He had a 7-month-old baby.

Asadullah was the top student at Marafet High School; he worked hard. When I went to his school and asked the teachers about his performance and behavior, they would say he was a role model, a very talented and hardworking boy, and was the pride of the school. Marafet school has an English department; he learned English there. He also studied English at the Muslim Educational Center. One day he told me, “Mother! Two more books are left and then I will complete the English courses.” It would make me feel very happy when I saw him studying. Hekmatullah encouraged him a lot; Hekmatullah would study with and guide Asadullah and his sister. Hekmatullah was a hero to all of us. He was a computer science instructor and solved everyone's problems. No one doubted his abilities. He studied with great interest and encouraged others to study too. God took them from me and did not consider us worthy of them. Every moment and every hour I wish I was killed with them. When they brought their bags home, they had not even eaten the apricot, chickpeas, and raisins. May God protect everyone against such grief. Only God knows how I feel. I have no more to say, I just have to be patient. Oh, it is very difficult and painful to lose two young children.

On July 23, 2016, two suicide bombers denoted their explosives among the protesters at Dehmazang Square in Kabul, the capital city of Afghanistan. The protesters, who were primarily Hazaras, were part of the Enlightenment Movement. They were protesting against the diversion of the TUTAP mega power project which would cause the project to bypass Hazara-dominated areas. At least 84 protesters lost their lives and 260-400 others were injured. The Islamic State of Khorasan Province (ISKP), the regional branch of ISIS, took credit for the attack. However, ISKP later refuted their involvement in the attack.

The Enlightenment Movement, also known as Junbesh-e Roshnayie, was a grassroots civil disobedience movement started by Hazaras in Afghanistan in response to a change in the Fichtner GmbH & Co. KG proposed Energy Supply Improvement Investment Program, unofficially called TUTAP project plans. The change in the project plans would cause it to bypass Hazara regions. The move was seen as perpetuating long-standing anti-Hazara discrimination. Throughout 2016 and 2017, the Enlightenment Movement coordinated large-scale demonstrations against discrimination both domestically in Afghanistan and abroad.

Shrapnel Was Lodged Deep in his Head

Narrator: Fatema Gholami (spouse)

Victim: Naeem Gholami

Date of the incident: 23 July 2016

Location of the incident: Dehmazang, Kabul City

My name is Fatema Gholami, the wife of the martyr Gholami. He was 35 years old in 2016. In 2007, I graduated high school in Panjab District of Bamyan Province. In 2012, I married Gholami. My husband was 35 years old when he was killed.

When Naeem [Gholami] returned to his hometown from Iran, he started working with a civil construction company. In 2012, we were married in Panjab District and later we moved to Kabul. Two months before our wedding, Gholami rented a house with three bedrooms.

Gholami had studied engineering and worked in Iran as a civil engineer. Shortly after our marriage, he got a civil engineering job in the Aga Khan’s office and moved to Sare-Pol. However, not long after starting this position, two motorcycle riders took him out of a minivan while on his way from a project site to his residence. Armed men kidnaped him. They asked us for one hundred thousand US dollars. The Aga Khan’s office contributed fifty-thousand dollars, and we arranged the other half [of the ransom money], and Gholami was released.

That first morning, he purchased many things for breakfast for our kids. I prepared breakfast. His son and daughter were sitting on his lap, and Gholami was putting a bite of everything he ate in their mouth. After breakfast, he ironed his clothes and took a shower. After bathing and dressing, he stood in front of the full-length mirror in our room and oiled his hair, combed it, and used perfume. He got ready, kissed his children, said goodbye to us, and left the house.

I was not able to organize the clothing or the house that day. I don’t know why but I was in a strange mood from morning to night. When after lunch my children fell asleep, I thought I might watch TV, but then I said no. I was bored, and the kids were sleeping. It was 1:30pm, when my children woke up. I turned on the TV, and news of the demonstration and suicide attack in Dehmazang was everywhere. I kept calling Gholami, but his cell phone was off. I had to call my brother and tell him that Gholami’s phone was switched off. He said, “No worries, there may be a problem [with his phone].” I then remembered that his phone was not charged. I waited a long time and tried to call everyone I could think of, but got no more information. Then night came. I went to buy bread and ran towards the mosque. I prayed in the mosque for my beloved husband to be found.

My children were left unattended at home. One of my brothers came home to stay with them, and I went again to the mosque. My other brothers were searching for Gholami from one o’clock to the next day. They had searched through all the hospitals. My family in Bamiyan kept calling to check whether my husband had been found. My brother said, “I will look in the 400-bed hospital.” As soon as my brother mentioned that, I felt disheartened, and my left arm and leg suddenly became paralyzed.

My brother asked me, “Did he wear embroidered clothes?” “Yes,” I said. He asked, “Was there a scarf around his neck?” “Yes,” I said. My brother said he thought he saw his body several times, but had not recognized him. He said the body looked like the body of a young boy, even though Gholami’s face and body were not badly damaged. They had attached a label with the name Mohammad Ewaz to the body. He had severe injuries on his back and head. Shrapnel had gone deep into his head, and his back was very badly damaged.

My brother called me again and said Gholami had been found in the 400-bed hospital but was injured. I told him to stay there, and I would come too, but my brother sternly replied, “No, stay at home; come later.” I was at home, and my other brother, who had his own house, and my sister came to our house. They said my husband was seriously injured and I had to go with them to their house.

When we arrived at my brother’s house, it was calm, and everything seemed different. I was in my brother’s guest room but was feeling restless. I told them someone should look after my children, as I was going to the hospital to see Engineer [Gholami]. They said I should stay at home because my children were too young to be left alone. Finally, I realized with sadness that Gholami had been martyred. My family had bathed martyr Gholami in the Mosalla [congregational mosque] and had taken him to the hill where martyrs of the “Enlightenment Movement” were buried. He had decided to go and take part in the demonstration of the Enlightenment Movement but had not informed me just to make sure I would not be worried. He was tired of the injustices. He had also participated in Tabasom Movement.

On July 23, 2016, two suicide bombers denoted their explosives among the protesters at Dehmazang Square in Kabul, the capital city of Afghanistan. The protesters, who were primarily Hazaras, were part of the Enlightenment Movement. They were protesting against the diversion of the TUTAP mega power project which would cause the project to bypass Hazara-dominated areas. At least 84 protesters lost their lives and 260-400 others were injured. The Islamic State of Khorasan Province (ISKP), the regional branch of ISIS, took credit for the attack. However, ISKP later refuted their involvement in the attack.

The Enlightenment Movement, also known as Junbesh-e Roshnayie, was a grassroots civil disobedience movement started by Hazaras in Afghanistan in response to a change in the Fichtner GmbH & Co. KG proposed Energy Supply Improvement Investment Program, unofficially called TUTAP project plans. The change in the project plans would cause it to bypass Hazara regions. The move was seen as perpetuating long-standing anti-Hazara discrimination. Throughout 2016 and 2017, the Enlightenment Movement coordinated large-scale demonstrations against discrimination both domestically in Afghanistan and abroad.

My Eyes Could Not See and My Ears Could Not Hear

Narrator: Mohamad Ali (father)

Victim: Baqer Mohammadi

Date of the incident: 23 July 2016

Location of the incident: Dehmazang, Kabul City

I am the father of martyr Baqir. We hail from Ghazni province, Malestan district, Qol Yakhi village, and belong to the Bassi tribe. Martyr Baqir attended Shindeh High School up to 9th grade. Since the quality of education was low, I advised him to go to Quetta in Pakistan and learn the English language. He agreed that he would go to Pakistan to learn English and Urdu. Pakistan is home to some of our relatives, including one of my sisters. I told him to go there; he could stay with them and carry on with his education. I even told him that when he went to my sister's house, “your food will be ready and your clothes will be washed.” He learned English and Urdu for two years. Another of my sons was in Iran. Baqir had spoken with him on the phone and he told Baqir that he could manage his life, and wanted to go to Iran. His brother agreed. The martyr moved to Iran and lived with his brother for a month. When his brother saw Baqir was not able to carry out heavy work, he felt sorry for him and suggested that he should continue his educational programs. He returned to Pakistan and called me to say he wanted to continue with his plans to study. I told him he had lost focus and would not be able to study well, and that it was better for him to come back to Kabul. He accepted my suggestion and returned home.

For six months, he helped me and his mother with work in farming and livestock. I called one of my friends and told him I wanted to send Baqir to work in Saudi Arabia, so could he lend me some money. They sent me the money and Baqir went to Pakistan, stayed there for a year, and prepared his visa and passport. He went to Saudi Arabia in 2009. In 2013, he performed the Hajj pilgrimage and lived in Saudi Arabia until 2014. Then he called me and said he wanted to come home. I agreed. Back then, we lived in Malestan. I bought a cow to sacrifice in honor of my son coming back home from Saudi Arabia. After the ceremony, I asked him if he would like to start a family. He said, “You can decide on my behalf.” I understood he approved the idea. I started looking for a good girl, and proposed a girl to him, who was from Kamrak in Jaghori district.

I asked him if he consented to choose the girl as his life partner. He went to the area by himself, met the girl, and approved her. We went there to the girl’s family to ask for her hand. After a while, they got engaged. The girl's father told me his daughter was in 9th grade and needed to complete her schooling. I told him we will talk about that at the right time. Twenty days later, I went and talked with my friend, my daughter in-law’s father. I told him, “My son has six months to stay here. He must use this time well, because then he is going back to Saudi Arabia for work.” I told him, “I will transfer my daughter in-law so that she can peacefully go to a school near our home.” Following the conversation, we reached an agreement. Within three months, I prepared all the wedding expenses and brought my son’s bride home.

My son, Haji Baqir, lived with his wife for two and a half months and subsequently returned to Saudi Arabia. In 2015, we moved to Kabul. Baqir traveled to Kabul again. We live in Barchi. He stayed home for six months. During this time, he didn't go out much; he was always at home. Later, he went back to Saudi Arabia. In 2016, Baqir came to Kabul for a six month vacation. He stayed in Kabul for twenty days. One day, he asked me if he and his wife could go on vacation to Malestan. I allowed them to go and they went to Ghazni in a friend's car. They stayed in Malestan for a month. They visited friends and relatives there. God had given him a one-year-old boy. I called him and said that I missed my grandson and it would be good if they returned to Kabul. He would always wake up during prayer time and then go back to sleep after prayer. His mother would wake him up for breakfast and we would have breakfast together. He got his ID card translated into English, verified in court, and submitted it to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. On Wednesday, he handed over his ID card and passport to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to be stamped.