Afghanistan: Information on a religious minority called Zardust
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 1 January 1994 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | AFG16198.E |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Afghanistan: Information on a religious minority called Zardust, 1 January 1994, AFG16198.E, available at: http://www.refworld.org/docid/3ae6ab5374.html [accessed 21 December 2015] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
Please note that Zardust is the prophet of Zoroastrians. Zardushtis, which means Zoroastrians in Persian (Farsi), could be the name of a minority group in Afghanistan. Sources currently available to the DIRB do not provide information on the Zardushtis (Zoroastrians) in Afghanistan. However, the attached section of Encyclopedia of the Third World refers to a religious minority group in Afghanistan called Parsis, which could be another name for the Zardushtis. Please note that Parsis, which means Persians (Iranians) in Persian, are Iranian Zardushtis who in the centuries following the Arab occupation of Iran and the subsequent implementation of policy of forced conversion to Islam, left Iran for the Indian subcontinent in order to keep their religion.
This response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the DIRB within time constraints. This response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum.
Attachment
Encyclopedia of the Third World. 1992. 4th ed. Vol. 1. Edited by George Thomas Kurian. New York: Facts On File, pp. 2-3.
Sources Consulted
News From Asia Watch. 1992-93.
On-line search.
The Europa World Year Book 1992. 1992. Vol. 1. London: Europa Publications Ltd.
Religion in Politics. 1989. London: St. James Press.
