Afghanistan: Information on how an Afghani male, who had married a non-Muslim Ukrainian female in USSR while he was there as a student, would be treated upon return to Afghanistan
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 1 November 1992 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | AFG12119 |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Afghanistan: Information on how an Afghani male, who had married a non-Muslim Ukrainian female in USSR while he was there as a student, would be treated upon return to Afghanistan, 1 November 1992, AFG12119, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3ae6ab1564.html [accessed 9 October 2022] |
| 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. |
According to an Asia Watch researcher in Washington, an Afghani related to or himself a member of a non-Muslim minority would face difficulties upon return to Afghanistan (2 Nov. 1992). A Columbia University professor specializing on Afghanistan indicated that a person who studied in the USSR and was married to a Soviet woman would have problems if he returned to Afghanistan (2 Nov. 1992). Most Afghani students in the USSR were trained to become public servants; under the new Islamic government, they would probably loose their posts and face some forms of harrasment if they come back to Afghanistan today (Ibid.). Corroborative or additional information on this topic is currently unavailable to the DIRB in Ottawa.
With the imposition of a fundamentalist Islamic government in Kabul since the overthrow of former President Najibullah in April 1992, non-Muslim minorities have been affected. In June 1992, for example, three Hindus were murdered by an unidentified Mujaheedeen faction (Documentation-Réfugiés 19 June 1992). This was not the first incident involving Hindus, who have frequently been victims of harassment since May 1992 (Ibid.). In July 1992, Hindu and Sikh families from West Kabul fled the fighting between pro-Iranian Shi'a Hezb-i-Wahdat, Sunni Ittehad-i-Islami and fundamentalist Hezb-i-Islami (Ibid. 29 July 1992).
Women form another group affected by the change to a fundamentalist government. Under Islamic law, they are prohibited from going out without the chuddar (Libération 25 June 1992). Arab clerics have reportedly arrived in Kabul to impose strict observance of the Islamic tradition (The Times 9 May 1992). A graffiti has appeared on a wall near the university in Kabul saying: "Death to all women who do not respect the chuddar" (The Times 9 May 1992).
Former communists or non-communists associated with the Najibullah regime are also worrying about their future according to The Christian Science Monitor (20 May 1992). Although there has been no large-scale "witch-hunt", some former communist party members and foreign diplomats claim that retaliation against those associated with communism is being delayed only by internal disputes among rival mujaheedeen groups (Ibid.). There has already been one report of retaliation: a former judge associated with the Najibullah regime was recently murdered in broad daylight in Kabul (La Presse 27 July 1992). After three employees of the Russian Embassy were killed in Kabul this summer, around one hundred relatives of the embassy's personnel were preparing to leave the Afghan capital (Le Devoir 25 Aug. 1992).
References
Asia Watch, Washington. 2 November 1992. Telephone Interview with a Researcher Specializing on South Asia.
The Christian Science Monitor [Boston]. 20 May 1992. Justin Burke. "Afghan Communists Flee Despite Amnesty Offer." (NEXIS)
Columbia University, New York. 2 November 1992. Telephone Interview with a Professor at the Political Science Department.
Le Devoir [Montréal]. 25 August 1992. "Des diplomates quittent Kaboul."
Documentation-Réfugiés [Paris]. 29 July 1992. "Afghanistan: la suite des violents affrontements..."
_____. 19 June 1992. "Afghanistan: la suite de l'assassinat..."
Libération [Paris]. 25 June 1992. "L'avenir voilé des femmes afghanes."
La Presse [Montréal]. 27 July 1992. "Kaboul: Fonctionnaire tué."
The Times [London]. 9 May 1992. Adam Kelliher. "Kabul's Conquerors Impose Islamic Law."
Attachments
The Christian Science Monitor [Boston]. 20 May 1992. Justin Burke. "Afghan Communists Flee Despite Amnesty Offer." (NEXIS)
Le Devoir [Montréal]. 25 August 1992. "Des diplomates quittent Kaboul."
Documentation-Réfugiés [Paris]. 29 July 1992. "Afghanistan: la suite des violents affrontements..."
_____. 19 June 1992. "Afghanistan: la suite de l'assassinat..."
Libération [Paris]. 25 June 1992. "L'avenir voilé des femmes afghanes."
La Presse [Montréal]. 27 July 1992. "Kaboul: Fonctionnaire tué."
The Times [London]. 9 May 1992. Adam Kelliher. "Kabul's Conquerors Impose Islamic Law."
