Afghan women take to streets against the Hazara genocide

Kabul: After a suicide bombing in the capital city killed 20 people, Afghan women held a protest in Kabul against the genocide of the minority Hazara community. Most of the victims of the bombing were young women from the ethnic group.

Hazara is a historically oppressed group in Afghanistan and they have been targeted by brutal attacks in recent years.

Protestors chanted: "Stop Hazara genocide, it is not a crime to be a Shiite." They marched past the hospital where victims are being treated. Wearing black hijabs and headscarves, they carried banners reading: "Stop killing Hazaras." One of the young women said that yesterday's attack was against Hazaras and Hazara girls, reported AFP.

The attack took place at a study hall in the city's Dasht-e-Barchi area where students were preparing for university entrance exams. The bomber detonated where in the women's section of the gender-segregated halls. The neighbourhood is dominated by Shiite Muslims and houses a minority Hazara community.

No organisation has claimed responsibility for the attack on the Kaaj Higher Educational Centre. It is widely known that the IS group considered Shiites as heretics and has previously taken credit for attacking girls, schools, and mosques. The Taliban also consider the Hazara community as "heathens" but has pledged to protect minorities upon returning to power in August 2021.