Afghan Hindus and Sikhs meet with President Ghani, raise issue of land grabbing

Afghanistan, Afghan Hindus, Sikhs, Ashraf Ghani, India, Taliban, forced conversion, Hinduism, Sikhism

Afghan Hindus and Sikhs on Monday met the President of Afghanistan Ashraf Ghani and raised several demands.

The small minority, now in some thousands, raised the issues of land grabbing done by influential people in the country. Another issue was the ease of getting Afghanistan’s Visa for Hindus and Sikhs who hold dual citizenship. Ashraf Ghani pledged that he will look into the issue.

Here are the pics from the meeting:

Afghanistan, Afghan Hindus, Sikhs, Ashraf Ghani, India, Taliban, forced conversion, Hinduism, Sikhism

Afghanistan, Afghan Hindus, Sikhs, Ashraf Ghani, India, Taliban, forced conversion, Hinduism, Sikhism

Afghanistan, Afghan Hindus, Sikhs, Ashraf Ghani, India, Taliban, forced conversion, Hinduism, Sikhism

Afghanistan, Afghan Hindus, Sikhs, Ashraf Ghani, India, Taliban, forced conversion, Hinduism, Sikhism

 

Ashraf Ghani also told the gathered minority members that Hindus and Sikhs are an integral part of the glorious history of Afghanistan.

As many as 99% of Hindus and Sikhs were forced out of Afghanistan after Pakistan-backed radical group Taliban took over. While earlier Hindus and Sikhs were in good financial condition, now they live in acute poverty.

Afghanistan, Afghan Hindus, Sikhs, Ashraf Ghani, India, Taliban, forced conversion, Hinduism, Sikhism
In 2015 a Fatwa was issued by radicals. The Fatwa dated 27th January 2015 ordered all the Hindus and Sikhs of Helmand province of Afghanistan to pay 12000 in Afghan currency per house as jizya or convert to ‘our honorable religion of Islam.’ The fatwa warned that those refuse either will be killed.


In July, scores of Afghan Hindus and Sikhs were killed after a suicide bombing in Jalalabad. The bombing led to worldwide condemnation with many countries easing the refuge and citizenship option for the minorities.

Earlier, a letter issued in Pashto by the Islamic State of Khorasan created panic among the Afghan Hindus and Sikhs. The letter told them to pay Jizya.

First ever Afghan Hindu Temple opens in Maryland (Pics)

The letter also said that if the Afghan Hindus and the Sikhs fail to pay up the Jizya then they must be ready to face the consequences.

Tengger: The ethnic minority which protects Hinduism in this remote part of Indonesia! (Pics)

Due to religious persecution, several Hindus and Sikhs have made India their home.

Namta Gupta