Aziz Ahmad Aref
- Photo of Victim
- Loading
- Gender
- Male
- Ethnicity
- Pashtun
- District geolocation of incident
- Kuz Kunar (Khewa): 34° 35′ 46″ N, 70° 34′ 30″ E
- Description of incident
Pro-government forces attacked our home on a late night in the fall of 1984. On the night the attack happened, I was at home with my brothers, one of whom was killed while the other and I were injured. I was 20 or 21-years-old at the time. It was night time and I couldn’t recognize the type of gun I was injured with. But it was obvious that we were killed and injured by Russian guns because all pro-government forces used Russian weaponry.
- Witness/Survivor Statement
I Returned to the Country…
Name and Last Name: Aziz Ahmad Arif
Date of Birth: 25 August 1959
Date of Injury: 26 January 1984
Type of Arm: Kalashnikov bullet
I was student at Kabul University during the rule of Noor Mohammad Taraki and Hafizullah [of the Afghanistan People’s Democratic Party (PDPA) that had ceased power after a bloody coup in 1978]. Kabul University students demonstrated in opposition to the regime. Like hundred of other students, I was one of the demonstrators. In response, the government arrested about one thousand students. When freed from jail, they had to either leave the country or live a hidden life. I was put into jail several times at the time of Taraki and later when the country was occupied by the Soviet forces.
When I was freed from jail in 1984, I was persuaded that living in Kabul was impossible for me anymore. I left Kabul for my home village, Khiwa, in Nangarhar Province in eastern Afghanistan. Our district in Nangarhar was not yet occupied by the government and Soviet forces.
The time of peace did not last long. Pro-government forces attacked our home on a late night in the fall of 1984. On the night the attack happened, I was at home with my brothers, one of whom was killed while the other and I were injured. I was 20 or 21-years-old at the time. It was night time and I couldn’t recognize the type of gun I was injured with. But it was obvious that we were killed and injured by Russian guns because all pro-government forces used Russian weaponry.
The regime had created local militias who worked based on the order of the government and were advised by Russian advisors on how to carry out their military operations. They were tasked to assault places where the residents were opposing the regime. Most of these ground attacks were carried out during night time.
It was winter and the weather was very cold. Bullets had pierced my leg and I couldn’t walk. There were also bullets that tore through my chest. One of my brothers who had undergone medical emergency courses bandaged the open wounds and then they took me to Peshawar, Pakistan. We went through mountainous terrain sometimes on his back, sometimes on mule or donkey.
I was hospitalized in Peshawar in a hospital run by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) for 9 months. I suffered a lot in that hospital. It was terrible. My wounds were opened and tied so many times. The wound on my chest went under operation 13 times.
After 9 months, I was still in a critical situation. My friends helped me travel to Germany for better treatment. It took almost two-and-a-half years in Germany till I fully recovered. But those wounds affected my whole life and I still bear the scars on my body. During the recovery period, I used to play football in order to help recover like before. But, unfortunately, one of my legs never recovered fully and there is a part still numb. However, a proverb says: “Till roots reach to the water, there is a hope.” I believe while we still breathe, we have hope to live for.
When living a period of time, we experience both happy and bitter moments which form our memories of life. There are some experiences that affect your life till the end. My whole life was affected by those wounds and I never experienced a peaceful life in Afghanistan after that. That’s why I cannot forget that memory. I may forget this memory for moments, but, it is not like a pencil’s mark on paper that can be easily erased. After a while, the memory is refreshed.
When I was under treatment in Germany, all my expenses were covered by my German friends. When I recovered, doctors insisted I stay in Germany. But I did not accept and returned to my country because I felt my friends and my country need me. I preferred to return among my friends.
- Confidential?
- No
Dr. Ahmad Reshad Latifi
- Photo of Victim
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- Gender
- Male
- Ethnicity
- Hazara
- District geolocation of incident
- Puli Khumri: 35° 56′ 49″ N, 68° 42′ 16″ E
- Description of incident
A deadly blast rocked a Shia mosque in Puli Khumri City, Baghlan Province, on October 13, 2023, killing and injuring dozens of people. The Imam Zaman Shiite mosque in the second district of the city was packed with worshippers for Friday prayers when the explosion happened. Witnesses told local media that the blast was caused by explosives hidden inside the mosque. Some residents claimed that it was a suicide attack aimed at the Shia and Hazara communities. The attack left at least 20 people dead and 66 others wounded, according to ground records conducted by AHRDO.
- Witness/Survivor Statement
No statement
- Confidential?
- No
Sayed Ghulam Sakhi Karbalaei
- Photo of Victim
- Loading
- Gender
- Male
- Ethnicity
- Sadat
- District geolocation of incident
- Puli Khumri: 35° 56′ 49″ N, 68° 42′ 16″ E
- Description of incident
A deadly blast rocked a Shia mosque in Puli Khumri City, Baghlan Province, on October 13, 2023, killing and injuring dozens of people. The Imam Zaman Shiite mosque in the second district of the city was packed with worshippers for Friday prayers when the explosion happened. Witnesses told local media that the blast was caused by explosives hidden inside the mosque. Some residents claimed that it was a suicide attack aimed at the Shia and Hazara communities. The attack left at least 20 people dead and 66 others wounded, according to ground records conducted by AHRDO.
- Witness/Survivor Statement
No statement
- Confidential?
- No
Sha Husain Anwari
- Photo of Victim
- Loading
- Gender
- Male
- Ethnicity
- Hazara
- District geolocation of incident
- Puli Khumri: 35° 56′ 49″ N, 68° 42′ 16″ E
- Description of incident
A deadly blast rocked a Shia mosque in Puli Khumri City, Baghlan Province, on October 13, 2023, killing and injuring dozens of people. The Imam Zaman Shiite mosque in the second district of the city was packed with worshippers for Friday prayers when the explosion happened. Witnesses told local media that the blast was caused by explosives hidden inside the mosque. Some residents claimed that it was a suicide attack aimed at the Shia and Hazara communities. The attack left at least 20 people dead and 66 others wounded, according to ground records conducted by AHRDO.
- Witness/Survivor Statement
No statement
- Confidential?
- No
Kabalsha Aghajan
- Photo of Victim
- Loading
- Gender
- Male
- Ethnicity
- Tajik
- District geolocation of incident
- Nadir Shah Kot: 33° 18′ 58″ N, 69° 41′ 55″ E
- Description of incident
In the dark midnight, all were sleeping. That night when the explosion took place, I imagined our home upside down. Those scenes of horror and darkness still haunt my dreams. In the dark, I tried to move and look for my family members, those who were fine and who were injured. But I couldn’t get up and move. Then, I figured out that my leg felt wet and I was injured by broken glass from my house. I had lost one leg in 1989 in a mine explosion. This time, my other leg was injured.
- Witness/Survivor Statement
The Curse of Incidents Always Hit the Poor
Name and Last Name: Kabalsha Aghajan
Date of Birth: 10 November 1968
Date of Injury: 22 March 1989
Type of Arm: Mine
In the dark midnight, all were sleeping. That night when the explosion took place, I imagined our home upside down. Those scenes of horror and darkness still haunt my dreams. In the dark, I tried to move and look for my family members, those who were fine and who were injured. But I couldn’t get up and move. Then, I figured out that my leg felt wet and I was injured by the broken glass from my house. I had lost one leg in 1989 in a mine explosion. This time, my other leg was injured.
All my family were terrified. The floor was covered with broken glass. We could not see anything in the dark.
After the first incident when I lost my leg, my family behaved and liked me like before. But it was painful for myself because I sometimes feel that I can’t do enough with disability.
When I was injured the first time, I was treated at the government hospital and also provided with other assistance. After I got out of the hospital, I was provided with monthly coupons along with 4000 Afghanis in cash. But the assistance our current government provides is not sufficient.
I ask the government to bring peace and to not forget war victims. We were disabled in this land and we are its citizens. Sometimes I hear very unfair words. They say that people like me are culprits or perpetrators. That’s we are disabled. When I hear these words, my heart breaks and it makes me sad.
- Confidential?
- No
Hassan
- Photo of Victim
- Loading
- Gender
- Male
- Ethnicity
- Hazara
- District geolocation of incident
- Balkh: 36° 45′ 19″ N, 66° 53′ 48″ E
- Description of incident
آنطوریکه راوی داستان حسن یعنی خدیجه عزیزی میگوید حادثه برای آنها نامعلوم است و قبر حسن هم نامعلوم است.
- Witness/Survivor Statement
مردگیش درگ نداره راوی: خدیجه عزیزی (دختر کاکا) قربانی: حسن زمان حادثه: ۱۳۷۷ مکان حادثه: مزار شریف [نامم] جدیجه [و تخلصم] عزیزی [است] آری. [شهید نامش] حسن [است]. پسر کاکایم میشد و ایورم. یگان ۲۵ ساله بود که شهید شد. در خود یکاولنگ، در قریه زارین متولد شده بود. [حسن] غریب کار بود دهقانی نمیکرد، گاهی وقت دهقانی هم میکرد، مقصد کار میکرد در شهر ملکها کار میکرد. گاهی به مزار میرفت گاهی به کابل، بامیان [برای کار کردن میرفت]. [محل شهادتش] مزار [شریف است]. حسن وقتی که به شهادت رسید همرایش یک بچه خالهاش و یک بچه عمه من یک بچه تغه/طغه من هم بود همهاش در مزار غرق شدند. 1 [در حمله طالبان به مزارشریف] شهید شد. کارگری، آری در مزار برای کارگری رفته بود. [حادثه] سرِبهار بود، آری سربهار. [همان سال ۱۳۷۷] البته، من آنقدرش را نمیفهمم. نه، درس نخوانده بود فقط یک سیاهی خوان بود، درس نخوانده بود. آری [خانهاش در] سرآسیاب بود. نه، نه قبرش سرگُم رفت ما ندیدیم. (نامفهوم) ما دیدیم که شهید شد، خیلی کسان [دیگر هم شهید شد] همان بچه خالهشی همین بچه عمه من همینها هیچ مردگیاش درک ندارد. خیلی دیر بعد قومها جمع شد گفت ما به چشم خود دیدیم کشته شد. آری گفتند طالبها کشته بچُوم که چه رقم کشته. خبر داشتیم یک عکس سیاه و سفید از کابل روان کرده بود، همینطور یگان نشانی روان میکرد احوالش را یگان دکاندار میآورد، گاهی خودش میآمد. تیرماه [خبر شدیم] و پدر و مادرش را شنواندیم. مادرش سهو شد از آن پس خیلی دیوانگی میکرد، گپهای ایله کاله میگفت بیچاره. آری از خاطر همان [مرگ نوجوانش] آب یخ میخورد دیگر چیزی خورده نمیتوانست. بیخی شب در خانه نمیآمد روز تا بیگاه و شب تا صبح را میگشت و میگفت دلم سرخ میآید؛ همینطور میگشت بیچاره. پدرش خوب بود، غنیمت بود به اندازهٔ مادرش کُوتو نمیکرد. [وقتی پدر و مادرش را خبر کردند بعد از آن آنها هیچ سرقبرش نرفتند چون] او گم شد، هیچ قبر نداشت. خیلی آدم خوبی بود، کارگر بود، زحمتکش بود، یگان کَرَد میآورد، ما خیلی... آنطور که... گاه چیز نبود یک روغن نباتی ایلفی بود در همان دوره، برنج پرمل بود، کار که میکرد از آنها به ما میآورد، خوب بود، خیلی بچه قاشواز بود. خانه نمینشست. آنجا کار کردن میرفت، گاهی غزنی میرفت، گاهی کابل گاهی بامیان. آری مجرد بود، خانه دار نبود. دایم او را ازبک میگفت، سید و هزاره به نام اوزبک میشناخت، قد بنلد داشت و خوبشی بود. او دایم کوله پکول سر میکرد. پَک گُم شد. یکدانه قاشق داشت، قاشق قدیمی ارمنه که از او بود. یک ساعتش تا بعدها بود [اما] خراب، اگر بچهها بیرون نینداخته باشند. [پدرش] آری دو سال شده فوت کرده، مادرش یک دو سال پیش [از پدرش فوت کرد] یعنی چهار سال میشود. آری [مادرش تا آخر عمر] یادش را میکرد. مادرش از همان خاطر مریض شد، پای درد شد، کم فکر شد، خیلی کم فکر شد. آری [وقتی زنده بود با پدرش خرج خانه را فراهم میکردند]. پدرش که ماند هم در گردن او(شوهر خدیجه عزیزی) بود و مادرش هم. زیاد نفر که قتل شد هیچ کس هم جستجو نتوانست که پیدا شود، از هیچ کس پیدا نشد. نه، نه هیچ چیزی نگفت [روزی که طرف مزار میرفت] او که میرفت از دشت میرفت و هیچ در قصهاش هم نبود که خبر کنم یا نکنم هیچ در غمش نبود، میرفت همانطور. آری [نترس بود] هیچ در غمش نبود. ما آنجا را ندیدیم، میگفتیم کجایه؟ [میگفتند] کابله! کابل را ندیدیم، مزار را همین حالا هم ندیدهام، کابل را هم آنطور ندیدیم یک بار همانطور گذری رفتیم. میرفت همانجا، ما دیگه سیاسریم ندیدیم که کجا میرود یا نمیرود. باز میآمد، میرفت، قدیم یک خط میآمد. تلفن نبود، نه برق بود نه تلفن بود هیچ چیز هم نبود. در اول [حکومت] کرزی جنراتور پیدا شد که برق آمد. خانه که میآمد هیچ قصه نمیکرد، هیچ چیز نمیگفت.
- Confidential?
- No
Sayed Sajad Rahmati
- Photo of Victim
- Loading
- Gender
- Male
- Ethnicity
- Sadat
- District geolocation of incident
- Puli Khumri: 35° 56′ 49″ N, 68° 42′ 16″ E
- Description of incident
A deadly blast rocked a Shia mosque in Puli Khumri City, Baghlan Province, on October 13, 2023, killing and injuring dozens of people. The Imam Zaman Shiite mosque in the second district of the city was packed with worshippers for Friday prayers when the explosion happened. Witnesses told local media that the blast was caused by explosives hidden inside the mosque. Some residents claimed that it was a suicide attack aimed at the Shia and Hazara communities. The attack left at least 20 people dead and 66 others wounded, according to ground records conducted by AHRDO.
- Witness/Survivor Statement
No statement
- Confidential?
- No
Sayed Sakhiurahman Sayedi
- Photo of Victim
- Loading
- Gender
- Male
- Ethnicity
- Sadat
- District geolocation of incident
- Puli Khumri: 35° 56′ 49″ N, 68° 42′ 16″ E
- Description of incident
A deadly blast rocked a Shia mosque in Puli Khumri City, Baghlan Province, on October 13, 2023, killing and injuring dozens of people. The Imam Zaman Shiite mosque in the second district of the city was packed with worshippers for Friday prayers when the explosion happened. Witnesses told local media that the blast was caused by explosives hidden inside the mosque. Some residents claimed that it was a suicide attack aimed at the Shia and Hazara communities. The attack left at least 20 people dead and 66 others wounded, according to ground records conducted by AHRDO.
- Witness/Survivor Statement
No statement
- Confidential?
- No
Sayed Damsha Hassanzada
- Photo of Victim
- Loading
- Gender
- Male
- Ethnicity
- Sadat
- District geolocation of incident
- Puli Khumri: 35° 56′ 49″ N, 68° 42′ 16″ E
- Description of incident
A deadly blast rocked a Shia mosque in Puli Khumri City, Baghlan Province, on October 13, 2023, killing and injuring dozens of people. The Imam Zaman Shiite mosque in the second district of the city was packed with worshippers for Friday prayers when the explosion happened. Witnesses told local media that the blast was caused by explosives hidden inside the mosque. Some residents claimed that it was a suicide attack aimed at the Shia and Hazara communities. The attack left at least 20 people dead and 66 others wounded, according to ground records conducted by AHRDO.
- Witness/Survivor Statement
No statement
- Confidential?
- No
Sayed Rahmatullah Temori
- Photo of Victim
- Loading
- Gender
- Male
- Ethnicity
- Sadat
- District geolocation of incident
- Puli Khumri: 35° 56′ 49″ N, 68° 42′ 16″ E
- Description of incident
A deadly blast rocked a Shia mosque in Puli Khumri City, Baghlan Province, on October 13, 2023, killing and injuring dozens of people. The Imam Zaman Shiite mosque in the second district of the city was packed with worshippers for Friday prayers when the explosion happened. Witnesses told local media that the blast was caused by explosives hidden inside the mosque. Some residents claimed that it was a suicide attack aimed at the Shia and Hazara communities. The attack left at least 20 people dead and 66 others wounded, according to ground records conducted by AHRDO.
- Witness/Survivor Statement
No statement
- Confidential?
- No
Sayed Abdul Husain Husaini
- Photo of Victim
- Loading
- Gender
- Male
- Ethnicity
- Sadat
- District geolocation of incident
- Puli Khumri: 35° 56′ 49″ N, 68° 42′ 16″ E
- Description of incident
A deadly blast rocked a Shia mosque in Puli Khumri City, Baghlan Province, on October 13, 2023, killing and injuring dozens of people. The Imam Zaman Shiite mosque in the second district of the city was packed with worshippers for Friday prayers when the explosion happened. Witnesses told local media that the blast was caused by explosives hidden inside the mosque. Some residents claimed that it was a suicide attack aimed at the Shia and Hazara communities. The attack left at least 20 people dead and 66 others wounded, according to ground records conducted by AHRDO.
- Witness/Survivor Statement
No statement
- Confidential?
- No
Habibullah Wafaei
- Photo of Victim
- Loading
- Gender
- Male
- Ethnicity
- Hazara
- District geolocation of incident
- Puli Khumri: 35° 56′ 49″ N, 68° 42′ 16″ E
- Description of incident
A deadly blast rocked a Shia mosque in Puli Khumri City, Baghlan Province, on October 13, 2023, killing and injuring dozens of people. The Imam Zaman Shiite mosque in the second district of the city was packed with worshippers for Friday prayers when the explosion happened. Witnesses told local media that the blast was caused by explosives hidden inside the mosque. Some residents claimed that it was a suicide attack aimed at the Shia and Hazara communities. The attack left at least 20 people dead and 66 others wounded, according to ground records conducted by AHRDO.
- Witness/Survivor Statement
No statement
- Confidential?
- No
Mohammad Juma Akbari
- Photo of Victim
- Loading
- Gender
- Male
- Ethnicity
- Hazara
- District geolocation of incident
- Puli Khumri: 35° 56′ 49″ N, 68° 42′ 16″ E
- Description of incident
A deadly blast rocked a Shia mosque in Puli Khumri City, Baghlan Province, on October 13, 2023, killing and injuring dozens of people. The Imam Zaman Shiite mosque in the second district of the city was packed with worshippers for Friday prayers when the explosion happened. Witnesses told local media that the blast was caused by explosives hidden inside the mosque. Some residents claimed that it was a suicide attack aimed at the Shia and Hazara communities. The attack left at least 20 people dead and 66 others wounded, according to ground records conducted by AHRDO.
- Witness/Survivor Statement
No statement
- Confidential?
- No
Salim Saheb Nazar
- Photo of Victim
- Loading
- Gender
- Male
- Ethnicity
- Hazara
- District geolocation of incident
- Puli Khumri: 35° 56′ 49″ N, 68° 42′ 16″ E
- Description of incident
A deadly blast rocked a Shia mosque in Puli Khumri City, Baghlan Province, on October 13, 2023, killing and injuring dozens of people. The Imam Zaman Shiite mosque in the second district of the city was packed with worshippers for Friday prayers when the explosion happened. Witnesses told local media that the blast was caused by explosives hidden inside the mosque. Some residents claimed that it was a suicide attack aimed at the Shia and Hazara communities. The attack left at least 20 people dead and 66 others wounded, according to ground records conducted by AHRDO.
- Witness/Survivor Statement
No statement
- Confidential?
- No
Sayed Hesam Meraj
- Photo of Victim
- Loading
- Gender
- Male
- Ethnicity
- Sadat
- District geolocation of incident
- Puli Khumri: 35° 56′ 49″ N, 68° 42′ 16″ E
- Description of incident
A deadly blast rocked a Shia mosque in Puli Khumri City, Baghlan Province, on October 13, 2023, killing and injuring dozens of people. The Imam Zaman Shiite mosque in the second district of the city was packed with worshippers for Friday prayers when the explosion happened. Witnesses told local media that the blast was caused by explosives hidden inside the mosque. Some residents claimed that it was a suicide attack aimed at the Shia and Hazara communities. The attack left at least 20 people dead and 66 others wounded, according to ground records conducted by AHRDO.
- Witness/Survivor Statement
No statement
- Confidential?
- No
Alimadad Jafari
- Photo of Victim
- Loading
- Gender
- Male
- Ethnicity
- Hazara
- District geolocation of incident
- Puli Khumri: 35° 56′ 49″ N, 68° 42′ 16″ E
- Description of incident
A deadly blast rocked a Shia mosque in Puli Khumri City, Baghlan Province, on October 13, 2023, killing and injuring dozens of people. The Imam Zaman Shiite mosque in the second district of the city was packed with worshippers for Friday prayers when the explosion happened. Witnesses told local media that the blast was caused by explosives hidden inside the mosque. Some residents claimed that it was a suicide attack aimed at the Shia and Hazara communities. The attack left at least 20 people dead and 66 others wounded, according to ground records conducted by AHRDO.
- Witness/Survivor Statement
No statement
- Confidential?
- No
Sayed Ghulam Hassan
- Photo of Victim
- Loading
- Gender
- Male
- Ethnicity
- Sadat
- District geolocation of incident
- Yakawlang: 34° 44′ 50″ N, 66° 56′ 40″ E
- Description of incident
The Taliban slaughtered at least 300 Sayyid and Hazara people during an attack on the Yakaolang District of Bamiyan province on January 7, 2001. Witness accounts state that once the Taliban troops retook Yakaolang, they started to arrest and ruthlessly kill individuals. In late December 2000, they had lost Yakaolang to Hezb-e Wahdat, an anti-Taliban party that claimed to be supported by the Hazara minority. Additionally, witnesses reported to Amnesty International that Hezb-e Wahdat soldiers executed at least four people in broad daylight during the few days they occupied Yakaolang in late December 2000.
- Witness/Survivor Statement
No statement
- Confidential?
- No
Qambar
- Photo of Victim
- Loading
- Gender
- Male
- Ethnicity
- Hazara
- District geolocation of incident
- Bamyan: 34° 48′ 44″ N, 67° 49′ 14″ E
- Confidential?
- No
Abozar Rasoli
- Photo of Victim
- Loading
- Gender
- Male
- Ethnicity
- Hazara
- District geolocation of incident
- Puli Khumri: 35° 56′ 49″ N, 68° 42′ 16″ E
- Description of incident
A deadly blast rocked a Shia mosque in Puli Khumri City, Baghlan Province, on October 13, 2023, killing and injuring dozens of people. The Imam Zaman Shiite mosque in the second district of the city was packed with worshippers for Friday prayers when the explosion happened. Witnesses told local media that the blast was caused by explosives hidden inside the mosque. Some residents claimed that it was a suicide attack aimed at the Shia and Hazara communities. The attack left at least 20 people dead and 66 others wounded, according to ground records conducted by AHRDO.
- Witness/Survivor Statement
No statement
- Confidential?
- No
Sayed Aliakbar Husaini
- Photo of Victim
- Loading
- Gender
- Male
- Ethnicity
- Sadat
- District geolocation of incident
- Puli Khumri: 35° 56′ 49″ N, 68° 42′ 16″ E
- Description of incident
A deadly blast rocked a Shia mosque in Puli Khumri City, Baghlan Province, on October 13, 2023, killing and injuring dozens of people. The Imam Zaman Shiite mosque in the second district of the city was packed with worshippers for Friday prayers when the explosion happened. Witnesses told local media that the blast was caused by explosives hidden inside the mosque. Some residents claimed that it was a suicide attack aimed at the Shia and Hazara communities. The attack left at least 20 people dead and 66 others wounded, according to ground records conducted by AHRDO.
- Witness/Survivor Statement
No statement
- Confidential?
- No
Mohammad Naieb Naderi
- Photo of Victim
- Loading
- Gender
- Male
- Ethnicity
- Hazara
- District geolocation of incident
- Puli Khumri: 35° 56′ 49″ N, 68° 42′ 16″ E
- Description of incident
A deadly blast rocked a Shia mosque in Puli Khumri City, Baghlan Province, on October 13, 2023, killing and injuring dozens of people. The Imam Zaman Shiite mosque in the second district of the city was packed with worshippers for Friday prayers when the explosion happened. Witnesses told local media that the blast was caused by explosives hidden inside the mosque. Some residents claimed that it was a suicide attack aimed at the Shia and Hazara communities. The attack left at least 20 people dead and 66 others wounded, according to ground records conducted by AHRDO.
- Witness/Survivor Statement
No statement
- Confidential?
- No
Monajatsha Karimi
- Photo of Victim
- Loading
- Gender
- Male
- Ethnicity
- Hazara
- District geolocation of incident
- Puli Khumri: 35° 56′ 49″ N, 68° 42′ 16″ E
- Description of incident
A deadly blast rocked a Shia mosque in Puli Khumri City, Baghlan Province, on October 13, 2023, killing and injuring dozens of people. The Imam Zaman Shiite mosque in the second district of the city was packed with worshippers for Friday prayers when the explosion happened. Witnesses told local media that the blast was caused by explosives hidden inside the mosque. Some residents claimed that it was a suicide attack aimed at the Shia and Hazara communities. The attack left at least 20 people dead and 66 others wounded, according to ground records conducted by AHRDO.
- Witness/Survivor Statement
No statement
- Confidential?
- No
Chaman Ali Kamali
- Photo of Victim
- Loading
- Gender
- Male
- Ethnicity
- Hazara
- District geolocation of incident
- Sayyad: 35° 52′ 25″ N, 68° 25′ 51″ E
- Description of incident
On August 3, 2017, anti-government groups including the Taliban and local self-proclaimed Daesh/Islamic State affiliated fighters launched an attack against Mirza Olang Village in Sayyad District, Sari Pul Province. Fighting lasted until August 5th. The village, known as ‘the gate to Sayyad,’ lies deep in a long valley. Its southern entrance is near the border of neighbouring Faryab Province and is located 20 km south of the Sayyad District administrative centre. Much of the area surrounding the administrative centre has been under the control of anti-government groups for more than one year.
- Confidential?
- No
Haji Khadim Hussain Wahidi
- Photo of Victim
- Loading
- Gender
- Male
- Ethnicity
- Hazara
- District geolocation of incident
- Sayyad: 35° 52′ 25″ N, 68° 25′ 51″ E
- Description of incident
On August 3, 2017, anti-government groups including the Taliban and local self-proclaimed Daesh/Islamic State affiliated fighters launched an attack against Mirza Olang Village in Sayyad District, Sari Pul Province. Fighting lasted until August 5th. The village, known as ‘the gate to Sayyad,’ lies deep in a long valley. Its southern entrance is near the border of neighbouring Faryab Province and is located 20 km south of the Sayyad District administrative centre. Much of the area surrounding the administrative centre has been under the control of anti-government groups for more than one year.
- Confidential?
- No
Haji Ghulam Sakhi Kamali
- Photo of Victim
- Loading
- Gender
- Male
- Ethnicity
- Hazara
- District geolocation of incident
- Sayyad: 35° 52′ 25″ N, 68° 25′ 51″ E
- Description of incident
On August 3, 2017, anti-government groups including the Taliban and local self-proclaimed Daesh/Islamic State affiliated fighters launched an attack against Mirza Olang Village in Sayyad District, Sari Pul Province. Fighting lasted until August 5th. The village, known as ‘the gate to Sayyad,’ lies deep in a long valley. Its southern entrance is near the border of neighbouring Faryab Province and is located 20 km south of the Sayyad District administrative centre. Much of the area surrounding the administrative centre has been under the control of anti-government groups for more than one year.
- Confidential?
- No
Baqer Wahidy
- Photo of Victim
- Loading
- Gender
- Male
- Ethnicity
- Hazara
- District geolocation of incident
- Sayyad: 35° 52′ 25″ N, 68° 25′ 51″ E
- Description of incident
On August 3, 2017, anti-government groups including the Taliban and local self-proclaimed Daesh/Islamic State affiliated fighters launched an attack against Mirza Olang Village in Sayyad District, Sari Pul Province. Fighting lasted until August 5th. The village, known as ‘the gate to Sayyad,’ lies deep in a long valley. Its southern entrance is near the border of neighbouring Faryab Province and is located 20 km south of the Sayyad District administrative centre. Much of the area surrounding the administrative centre has been under the control of anti-government groups for more than one year.
- Confidential?
- No
Sakhidad Tahiri
- Photo of Victim
- Loading
- Gender
- Male
- Ethnicity
- Hazara
- District geolocation of incident
- Mazar-e Sharif: 36° 41′ 38″ N, 67° 6′ 48″ E
- Description of incident
On August 7, 1998, following a renewed conflict with the Northern Front, Taliban forces entered Mazar-e-Sharif in Balkh Province. In the initial days, they detained and executed thousands of civilians, primarily Hazaras. Within the first 3 days, the Taliban forces declared a general massacre targeting the city's Shia population. According to witnesses, the scale of the violence left bodies strewn across the streets. It took days to remove all the bodies. Sakhidad Tahiri was among the civilian casualties of the Taliban's massacre.
- Witness/Survivor Statement
A Survivor of The Mazar-e- Sharif Genocide
Narrator: Suhaila
Victim: Sakhidad Tahiri, Hikmatullah
Date of the incident: August 09, 1998
Location of the incident: Mazar-e-Sharif city, airport, on the flight line
Suhaila is one of the survivors of the Mazar-e- Sharif genocide carried out by the Taliban. As a result of this genocide, 13 of her family members were killed, including her father and brother while Suheila was severely beaten up. Only two of the 13 dead relatives were later found and given a proper burial. She still does not know where the rest of her family members were buried. At times, she misses her father a lot and it is in those moments of difficulty that she would like to visit her father’s grave and complain to him about the hardships of her life. But she does not even know where her father’s grave is. A fact that deeply disturbs her.
Her only solace is a pearl box that her father made for her and she never abandons even for a minute. It is her most valuable reminder of him. A way for her to keep the memory of her father alive forever. It is also a symbol of all the evils of war. An evil that takes away the lives of loved ones and separates sons and daughters from their fathers, ending the kindest of all human relationships.
Sometimes these fathers disappear and their children have no idea about their whereabouts. Other times, it is the parents who are deprived of seeing their children again. For Suheila the pearl box represents a symbol for all those children who lost their fathers during Afghanistan’s many decades of war. She wants to keep it in her own museum to let the present and future generations know about her pain and suffering. In her view, the pearl box symbolizes the rejection of violence as a means to resolve conflict.
Suhaila’s Story
My father had just finished his lunch and gone back to work on his piece of land. In those times we had a lot of land and even owned a tractor. One day, the Taliban came and asked him to get down from the tractor without turning off the engine. They then went on and handcuffed him. When my brother came to see what was going on the Taliban arrested him too. Until today, I do not know what happened to them and how they were killed. Only one of my uncles survived. He told me that my father was killed and that he buried him but I never saw my father’s dead body. What I heard later is that the Taliban killed my father and brother with one single shot as they did not want to waste any bullets.
We escaped from our house as the Taliban closed in on the area that we were living at the time. We returned back home after a few days. The Taliban had attacked our village and taken whatever they could find. All the houses in our village had been burnt. Nothing was left in our homes as the Taliban had torched them all. The only thing I found was the pearl box that my father made for me while he was imprisoned during Najibullah’s regime. Since then, I have never let go of it and I am always very cautious not to lose it since it is very valuable for me. I decided to use it for the Memory Box project. This box is the most important thing in my life as it is the only thing left from my father.
The Taliban killed 13 family members of mine including my father, brother, uncles and cousins. Only two of them were found and buried.
- Confidential?
- No
Sharifullah
- Photo of Victim
- Loading
- Gender
- Male
- Ethnicity
- Hazara
- District geolocation of incident
- Mazar-e Sharif: 36° 41′ 38″ N, 67° 6′ 48″ E
- Description of incident
On August 7, 1998, following a renewed conflict with the Northern Front, Taliban forces entered Mazar-e-Sharif in Balkh Province. In the initial days, they detained and executed thousands of civilians, primarily Hazaras. Within the first 3 days, the Taliban forces declared a general massacre targeting the city's Shia population. According to witnesses, the scale of the violence left bodies strewn across the streets. It took days to remove all the bodies. Sharifullah was among the civilian casualties of the Taliban's massacre.
- Witness/Survivor Statement
No statement
- Confidential?
- No
Sardaro Ali
- Photo of Victim
- Loading
- Gender
- Female
- Ethnicity
- Hazara
- District geolocation of incident
- Arghandab: 31° 39′ 3″ N, 65° 38′ 59″ E
- Description of incident
On November 9, 2015, in Zabul Province, seven Hazara individuals were taken hostage and beheaded by the Islamic State. Among the victims was Shukria Tabassum, a nine-year-old child.
- Witness/Survivor Statement
No statement
- Confidential?
- No
Omran Aziz
- Photo of Victim
- Loading
- Gender
- Male
- Ethnicity
- Pashtun
- District geolocation of incident
- Jalalabad: 34° 27′ 19″ N, 70° 27′ 7″ E
- Description of incident
The spokesperson of the Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission announced that two of their employees were killed and six others were injured when a roadside mine exploded in Jalalabad City, the capital of Nangarhar Province on October 26, 2015.
- Witness/Survivor Statement
No statement
- Confidential?
- No