The Hazaras are an Asian ethnic minority in Afghanistan, Pakistan, and worldwide. They have faced persecution for centuries and have their own distinct culture and religion, including poetry and storytelling. Despite being a significant minority, they have limited access to social services and education. They are known for their hospitality and have gained more attention and support since the US-led invasion in 2001.
The Hazaras are an ethnic minority living mainly in the arid mountainous regions of central Afghanistan. They can also be found in parts of Pakistan and a diaspora has dispersed other members of this ethnic group to many regions of the world. This ethnic group has historically faced persecution from other ethnic groups in Afghanistan; Hazaras have been forcibly displaced, enslaved and subjugated by the dominant ethnic groups in this region for centuries.
Several things distinguish the Hazaras from other ethnic groups in the area. The first is their strongly Asian ancestry, suggesting that they are probably descended from Mongols, although the group also clearly intermingled with people of Eastern European and Middle Eastern ancestry. The Hazaras speak Hazaragi, a form of Persian, and are mainly Shia Muslims.
This ethnic group also has its own distinct cultural and religious traditions. The Hazaras are famous for their poetry and storytelling, with legends of their culture and life passed down in the form of long songs, poems and stories told to children. A variety of musical instruments are played among these people, and while those of this ethnic group share values with other Muslims across the Middle East, they sometimes express these values in different ways, integrating a rich folklore and history of superstition into their practice of the Muslim faith.
Up to four million Hazaras can be found worldwide, with steady numbers difficult to track due to diaspora. Despite being a significant ethnic minority in Afghanistan, they have disproportionate access to social services, education and other benefits. Historically they have been quite poor, with many living on a stable subsistence, due in part to the rocky environment they live in, which makes farming difficult.
Despite the hardships, the Hazaras have been known for their hospitality since the 1500s, when people began to view them as a distinct cultural group. Like many other Middle Easterners, the Hazaras take hospitality very seriously, ensuring their guests are as comfortable and happy as possible, and extending protection to their guests.
After the US-led invasion of Afghanistan in 2001, many people became more aware of the plight of the Hazaras. Coalition forces have supported the development of programs to support this group and other ethnic minorities in Afghanistan, and members of the Hazara diaspora have also begun to mobilize for more rights and protections for their fellow Hazaras in Afghanistan and Pakistan.
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