The regime in place need not always be responsible for the incidents that occurred in their governing period.

2021-today

Historical context

On August 15, 2021, over two weeks before the official U.S. withdrawal deadline established by the Doha agreement, and after only a few weeks of fighting and rapid territorial gains, the Taliban swiftly captured the capital city of Kabul, effectively taking control of the country. The collapse of the Afghan government and security forces led to widespread chaos and panic among the population, with many attempting to escape the country. Since then, Afghanistan has experienced a severe humanitarian and financial crisis.

Amnesty International has reported a highly concerning situation regarding human rights in the country, with numerous documented cases of crimes under international law and daily violations of human rights carried out by the Taliban. Of particular concern is the plight of marginalized communities, including minorities, individuals with dissenting opinions, and women. The report by the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Afghanistan describes gender apartheid as an accurate portrayal of the systematic discrimination against women and girls. A discrimination that lies at the core of Taliban ideology and rule.

Incident by responsible conflict party

Conflict Parties refer to all those political and military actors passively or actively participating in the conduct of hostilities from 1978 to the present date.

Through My Eyes: Capturing the Human Side of Conflict

After the explosion, my head was spinning. I told myself that I must get up and not die. What will happen to my deams if I die?

Fatima Amini recounting the attack on the Kaaj Educational Centre in Kabul, in September 2021.

2020-2021

Historical context

Following the September 11, 2001 attacks on New York and Washington, the US-led coalition declared war on the Taliban government on October 7, 2001. The international coalition relied mostly on airstrikes and special forces supporting anti-Taliban militias. By November 2001, the Northern Alliance occupied Kabul, and the Taliban surrendered Kandahar the following month.

The major Afghan factions (excluding the Taliban) were invited by the UN to Bonn, Germany, in December 2001 to form an interim government under the leadership of Hamid Karzai, with the support of an international peacekeeping force to maintain security in Kabul. The Afghan constitution was adopted in January 2004, with Hamid Karzai elected as President in October of the same year, and a democratic legislature established in 2005.

During the summer months of 2006, violence increased across the country, particularly in the South, with the use of suicide attacks. In September 2014, the National Unity Government was formed in the wake of a highly contentious presidential election. Since then, the country has been experiencing unprecedented violence not seen before after the Taliban's fall.

The post-2001 war has been conducted in the most unrestrained and disproportionate ways with violence and cruelty. Afghan civilians have again become the primary victims of this war. Civilian casualties remained undocumented from 2001 through 2009. According to UNAMA, which has mapped the conflict since 2009, civilian casualties stood at more than x on x date with x deaths and x injuries. Patterns of violations and casualties commensurate with changes in battlefield tactics and the type of force deployed. Suicide attacks, ground engagements, Improvised Explosive Devices, and deliberate killings remained the main causes of violations. The Taliban insurgents' attacks provoked the majority of the casualties, with Afghan National Security and Defense Forces followed by international military forces. Public spaces such as schools, hospitals, mosques, educational centers, or electoral sites have become the targets of insurgents' attacks. Abductions, extortion, and the summary execution of civilians are regularly perpetrated along the major routes across the country

The names, photographs, narratives, and memories of some of the known civilians killed in this period are displayed in this museum in their memory.

Incident by responsible conflict party

Conflict Parties refer to all those political and military actors passively or actively participating in the conduct of hostilities from 1978 to the present date.

Through My Eyes: Capturing the Human Side of Conflict

I was the only one who survived that night. I still can't forget that horrific moment. My sisters were 16 and 11 years old, my mother was only 38.

Habib Wali speaks of losing his sisters and mother in 2015.

1996-2021

Historical context

In early 1994, the little-known movement, Taliban, based in Kandahar began to acquire influence, quickly seizing control of Kandahar in November of 1994. The Taliban rapidly expanded their territory, most often buying the allegiance of local leaders. By September 1995, the Taliban had gained control of most of the eastern, western and southern provinces and they entered Kabul in 1996.

Emergence of the Taliban and establishment of the Islamic Emirate added a new dimension to the conflict. In the territories under their control, the Taliban applied strict rules, based on an extremist interpretation of Islam and Shari’a law. The Ministry for the Promotion of Virtue and the Suppression of Vice enforced strict rules through brutal means such as public beatings, execution, and stoning.

Music, dancing, radio, television were banned. Many cultural sites and artifacts from Afghanistan’s rich and diverse past were destroyed. Great numbers of Afghans were leaving the country to become once more refugees in Pakistan or Iran. Internally, despite controlling 80% of the country, the Taliban faced opposition from the Northern Alliance. Minority ethnic and religious groups were targeted, with ethnic cleansing and massacres. The Islamic Emirate conducted multiple massacres against civilians across Afghanistan, such as in Mazar-e Sharif in 1998, Sar-e Pul in 1999-2000, Robatak in 2000, Bamyan and Yakawlang in 2001, and the destruction of the Shamali orchards and vines in 1999-2000. Torture, summary detention, and executions were also rampant.

The names, photogaphs, narratives and memories some of the known civilians killed in this period are displayed on this museum in their memory.

Incident by responsible conflict party

Conflict Parties refer to all those political and military actors passively or actively participating in the conduct of hostilities from 1978 to the present date.

Through My Eyes: Capturing the Human Side of Conflict

Today, no one listens to our stories of suffering.

Nargis speaking of the death of her husband Sakhidad Hedayat in 2000.

1992-1996

Historical context

In the early 1990s, Afghanistan plunged into a devastating civil war, as the different Mujahedeen factions failed to form a stable government.

The new Islamic government had limited territorial control of the country, only in control of parts of the capital and a few areas of the countryside. Alliances between Mujahedeen groups were very unstable, and the local populations were subjected to retaliatory violence, such as all parties to the conflict blatantly violated basic rules of war and international humanitarian law. Civilian areas were shelled, military campaigns were undertaken against entire neighborhoods, tortures, rape and summary executions frequently took place in this period. The names, photogaphs, narratives and memoriess of some of the known civilians killed in this period are displayed on this museum in their memory.

Incident by responsible conflict party

Conflict Parties refer to all those political and military actors passively or actively participating in the conduct of hostilities from 1978 to the present date.

Through My Eyes: Capturing the Human Side of Conflict

I suffered too much after my mother was killed, as I had a very strong emotional connection to her. My mother's death marked the end of happiness for me.

Safia speaking of losing her mother, Fatimah in 1996.

1987-1992

Historical context

Following a period of a relatively stable monarchy, King Zahir Shah was overthrown by his cousin, Mohammad Daoud Khan, in 1973. In 1978, Daoud and his family were executed in a communist coup led by Nur Mohammad Taraki. Taraki, and his successor Hafizullah Amin employed suppression and political violence such as mass arrests, torture and summary executions.

Following the Amin Coup, the Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan in December 1979. While the Afghan government and Soviet forces remained in control of most cities, the Mujahideen factions waged a guerrilla war in different areas of the country with external support. Urban areas, such as Kabul, were relatively untouched while the rural areas bore the brunt of the conflict. The 1988 Geneva Accord signaled the Soviet withdrawal from Afghanistan, and Dr. Najibullah managed to remain in power until 1992 when the government collapsed.

This period suffered massive human rights violations, violations of the rules of war, and of the basic rules of international humanitarian law by conducting systematic arrests, summary executions, bombing and shelling, torture, disappearances and assassination of civilians. It is estimated that over 1 million Afghans lost their lives. Furthermore, over five million (nearly a fifth of the population) fled to Pakistan or Iran and two million were displaced within the country.

One example of mass arrests and summary executions has been the murder of about 5000 people under the Noor Mohammad Taraki and Hafizullah Amin governments in 1978/79. The details of the 5000 victims were released in 2013. AHRDO has inscribed the names and details of those victims as they have appeared in the original list on this musuem to pay tribute to those victims and help the Afghans remember them.

Incident by responsible conflict party

Conflict Parties refer to all those political and military actors passively or actively participating in the conduct of hostilities from 1978 to the present date.

Through My Eyes: Capturing the Human Side of Conflict

I hope that these objects will help people to distinguish between those who are open-minded and progressive, and those of who are murderers and killers.

Afghani talking about the memory box she created for her husband, Allah Mohammad, killed in 1978.

The impact of war in Afghanistan

Types of incident

Alleged types of crimes

Let’s transform our tears into energy.

Karima, war survivor - March 2007

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Afghanistan Memory Home adopts a victim-centered approach. We capture our narrative through the lens of Our Voices.

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