Afghanistan: Treatment by the Taliban of Afghans who studied in the former Soviet Union, including whether they are suspected of supporting Russia or communism; whether they are blamed for the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan; whether they are denied employment; whether the fact that they are from the Turkmen ethnic group from Mazar-I-Sharif affects their treatment
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 1 May 1999 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | AFG31994.E |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Afghanistan: Treatment by the Taliban of Afghans who studied in the former Soviet Union, including whether they are suspected of supporting Russia or communism; whether they are blamed for the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan; whether they are denied employment; whether the fact that they are from the Turkmen ethnic group from Mazar-I-Sharif affects their treatment, 1 May 1999, AFG31994.E, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3ae6aca138.html [accessed 3 November 2019] |
| 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. |
Extensive information regarding groups at risk on Afghanistan can be found in the Danish Immigration Service's July 1998 Report on the Fact-finding Mission to Afghanistan, available in Regional Documentation Centres and online at
While the delegation was visiting Peshawar, it was told by a number of international or Afghan NGOs of rumours of the dismissal of as many as 2000 public employees on account either of membership of the former communist party and employment in the PDPA administration or of education or training in the former Soviet Union or Central Asia (ibid.).
No specific reference as to whether Afghans who studied in the former Soviet Union are suspected of supporting Russia or communism or whether they are blamed for the Russian occupation of Afghanistan could be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate.
No information concerning the treatment of members of the Turkmen ethnic group from Mazar-I-Sharif, could be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate. However, the above-referenced Danish Immigration Service report contains extensive material concerning the treatment of Hazaras from Mazar-I-Sharif as well as other groups at risk in Afghanistan.
This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate 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. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Response.
Reference
Danish Immigration Service. July 1998. Report on the Fact-finding Mission to Afghanistan.
Additional Sources Consulted
Resource Centre Amnesty International file on Afghanistan. 1998-1999.
Resource Centre Country file on Afghanistan. 1998-1999.
Unsuccessful attempts to contact an oral source.
Electronic sources: IRB databases, LEXIS/NEXIS, Internet, REFWORLD, CISNET, WNC.
