Afghan General Information

Our Resources > Ethnicity and Disability > Specific Communities > AFGHAN > General Information

The People

Name of Country Afghanistan

Population 29.9 million (July 2005 estimate) with 44.7% of the population aged between 0-14 years.

Government Transitional. On 9 October 2004, Hamid Karzai became the first elected president of Afghanistan. A nationwide Loya Jirga adopted a constitution and elections for the National assembly were held on 18 September 2005.

Ethnic Groups Afghanistan is made up of many ethnic communities including: Pashtun 42%; Tajik 27%; Hazara 9%;Uzbek 9%; and other ethnic groups 13% (Aimaks, Turkmen, Baloch and others).

Religions The primary religion among Afghans is Muslim, with 80% of the population Sunni Muslim and 19% Shi'ite Muslim.

Languages Afghans speak a range of different languages and many people are bi-lingual. Half the population speaks Dari, with a further 35% speaking Pashtu. 11% of the population speak Turkic languages, primarily Uzbek and Turkmen, and there are 30 other languages spoken.

Life Expectancy Around 43 years is the average life span for the total population.

Background

Afghanistan is an extremely poor country highly dependent on farming and livestock raising (sheep and goats). The economy has been a secondary consideration during the past two decades of war as a result of political and military upheavals. Gross domestic product has fallen substantially over the past 20 years because of the loss of labour and capital and the disruption to trade and transport.

The majority of the population lack food, clothing, housing, and medical care. Inflation remains a serious problem throughout the country. International aid can deal with only a fraction of the humanitarian problem, while economic development is at a standstill.

Soviet Invasion
Afghanistan was invaded and occupied by the former Soviet Union from 1979 to 1989. During the occupation, one-third of the population fled the country, with Pakistan and Iran sheltering more than 6 million refugees.

Besides the economic and political devastation that the Soviet invasion created, massive human rights violations have had severe effects on the emotional and mental health of the Afghan society.

Taliban Regime
Following the Soviet withdrawal from Afghanistan, civil war broke out as competing factions battled for control. The Islamic Taliban movement seized control of most of the country. Under the Taliban regime, human rights abuses intensified, as the Taliban enforced what some refugees in Australia call 'fascist' controls in the name of Islam. For instance, Taliban leaders banned music, shut down cinemas, burnt films, etc. Some argue that these controls have little to do with Islam and the teaching of Muhammad (Peace be upon him).

The overwhelming majority of Afghans are Muslims (about 99%), either Sunni or Shi'ite. The Shi'te Muslims were persecuted under the Taliban, which is predominantly Sunni. Women suffered tremendously as a result of the Taliban regime and were continually subjected to a range of prejudices, discrimination and atrocities. The Taliban closed girls' schools and women were ordered to stop working, making life harder for many families. From the mid 1990s, women constantly lived under the threat of being stoned to death for failing to meet these strict requirements, despite the practice of death by stoning having been abolished centuries ago in Afghanistan.

In 2001 there were 7 million Afghans living as refugees around the world.

Post Taliban
The Taliban captured most of the country except Northern Alliance strongholds primarily in the northeast, until the USA and allied military actions in 2001. In late 2001, major leaders from Afghan opposition groups and the diaspora met and agreed on a plan to form a new government structure that resulted in the Afghan Interim Authority (AIA). The AIA held a nationwide Loya Jirga (Grand Assembly) in June 2002 and a secret ballot elected Hamid Karzai President of the Transitional Islamic State of Afghanistan (TISA) in October 2004. The government received an 18-month mandate to hold a nationwide Loya Jirga to adopt a constitution and a 24-month mandate to organise a nationwide election. That election was held on 18 September 2005.

The country remains politically unstable and subject to military action. There is enormous poverty, little infrastructure and widespread land mines.

Afghan refugees continue to live in refugee camps across the world as it is too dangerous to return.

History of Migration to Australia
The first Afghans came to Australia to work with camels in 1840. Afghan camel drivers established depots and transported supplies, machinery, building materials and people to the outlying farms, even delivering mail. They were employed in the construction of the overland Telegraph Line (in1870) from Port Augusta to Darwin.

Following the Soviet Invasion and the takeover by the Taliban, Afghans continued to seek refuge in Australia. In 1999-2000 financial year, a total of 4,174 boat people came to Australia on 75 boats. Many were granted only Temporary Protection Visas, making settlement in Australia very difficult and reunification with families impossible.

After the downfall of the Taliban regime and the introduction by the Australian Government of regulations to deter refugees arriving by boat, the number of people coming from Afghanistan reduced significantly, with most arrivals kept in offshore detention centres such as Nauru.

Afghan Community in NSW

• 4,687 people living in NSW were born in Afghanistan (an increase of almost 60% since 1996).
• 3,961 Afghan born people identified Persian as their main language. 600 people living in NSW spoke Pashtu.
• No figures exist for Dari speakers.

(2001 Census)

Some Cultural Aspects of Afghan Life

Characteristically, the family is the mainstay of Afghan society. Extremely close bonds exist within the family, which usually consists of members of several generations. The oldest man, whose word is law for the whole family, tends to head the family. Family honour, pride and respect toward other members of the family are prized qualities.

The arts have a central role in Afghan culture. Islamic traditions of fine calligraphy and graphic arts are apparent in the decoration of many buildings. Literature, poetry, authors and poets are revered. Storytelling continues to flourish and the telling of folktales through music and spoken word is a highly developed and appreciated art form. The use of folklore has become the thread that links the past with the present and it is still used to teach traditional values, beliefs and behaviours.

Attitudes towards People with Disability

Many traditional explanations of the causes of disability are based on old Persian Sufi texts (see section on Islam). In these texts disability is referred to as being given by Allah, mainly for the purpose of learning. As a result, people with disability in Afghanistan, especially people with an intellectual disability, are often protected and well loved by the family. In the Australian community, this behaviour may be perceived as 'mollycoddling' or stifling the development of people with disability because it is seen as creating dependence.

Another expression of this tradition is that people who are blind or vision impaired find employment in memorising and reciting the Qur'an at prayer time in the Mosque. This creates status and thus respect and income for some people with disability. One small indicator that people with disability are valued within the Afghan community is the celebration on National Remembrance Day for 'Martyrs and the Disabled'.

Ali
Ali came to Australia in 1996. He was sponsored to Australia by his extended family. He has high standing in the Afghan community as he was fighting for Afghanistan's independence during the occupation by the former Soviet Union.

From his involvement in the civil war, Ali sustained physical injuries, which are deteriorating. He is seen as an important member of the community who care for him very much. They also support him financially, as he does not receive any financial assistance from the Australian government, being ineligible for the Disability Support Pension and services requiring the Disability Support Pension as an entry criterion.

Some Sufi texts also talk about disability as punishment and as a curse of Allah, so people with disability may be viewed as a 'black mark' or curse on the family. While there are no institutions for people with disability in Afghanistan, people with disability who live with their families may be locked away from the rest of the community. In an attempt to have their child 'restored', some families travel from one Mullah (religious leader) to another in the hope that a miracle will occur.

Farzana
Farzana is a young Afghan who has epilepsy. Her brothers beat her every time she has a seizure in a public place.

Her brothers told her to control herself and to stop attracting attention to herself, as her seizures cause the family embarrassment. The family has no understanding of her disability and information in the language appears not to be available.

The principal cause of disability in Afghanistan is armed conflict. 14 years of war following the Soviet invasion meant that 10-30 million landmines were scattered across the country (UN estimate). It is estimated that there are 1.1 million people in Afghanistan who live with a physical disability, acquired primarily through war. Many of these people are considered war heroes or Mudjahedin and are treated relatively well.

Generally speaking, negative attitudes towards people with disability remain a significant barrier, as they do in all communities. A more significant barrier in Afghanistan, however, is poverty which results in an almost complete lack of any appropriate services. Frequently a person with disability without a family needs to 'work' as a beggar in order to survive.

Refugees from Afghanistan often experience depression, isolation and fear because of the persecution and torture they experienced before arriving in Australia.

People with disability and their families who come from Afghanistan to Australia are likely to have limited knowledge and awareness of the types of disability services available and many, because of the trauma they may have endured, are cautious and apprehensive about using any government and government funded services.

Mr Razni
Mr Razni is a 58 year old refugee who came to Australia from Afghanistan with his wife and 5 children.

In Afghanistan he was imprisoned and tortured by the Taliban for several years because of his human rights activities.

The family finally fled to Pakistan and spent a few years in a refugee camp there and were eventually allowed to come to Australia

Mr. Razni has severe depression and has tried to commit suicide. He has very limited English and because of this and his unstable mental health he has so far been unable to find work.

After refusing any support from anyone for some time Mr Razni finally agreed to apply for a Disability Support Pension.

>Afghan General Information

>Afghan Contacts and Links

>Afghan Index

FOR STUDENTS Ethnicity & Disability Specific Communities Opening Doors Working with people from an NESB with disability Culture & Disability About MDAA in Other Languages