A General Overview of the History of the Afghanistan Hazaras Culture and Solidarity Association

The journey of the Afghanistan Hazaras Culture and Solidarity Association began in 1993 with the arrival of the first five Hazara students in Turkey for their studies. By 1996, this number had grown to 17. Despite being one of Afghanistan’s largest ethnic groups, the Hazara community was dissatisfied with the low number of students coming to Turkey. To address this, Hazara students in Turkey began to organize and establish a more structured network.

In 1996, the Hazara Students Union was formed in Gaziantep, Turkey. Their initial activity was a commemoration ceremony for Ustad Mezari. This event marked the beginning of a regular gathering of Hazara students studying in various Turkish universities. The goal was to represent the Hazaras in Afghanistan. Notable members of this group included Sultan Ali Javid, Hacı Muhammed Atavaş, and others.

By 1998, the Union had grown significantly and reached a membership of 38 by 1999. Over the years, the membership continued to increase, reaching 250 by 2012. The Union organized various cultural activities to promote Hazara culture and participated in national and international conferences.

The Hazara Students Union played a crucial role in fostering a sense of community among Hazara students and promoting their culture. They organized exhibitions of Hazara handicrafts in cities like Istanbul, İzmir, and Ankara. They also maintained friendly relations with students from Afghanistan, the Turkic world, the Balkans, and other regions.

To further their efforts, the Afghanistan Hazaras Culture and Solidarity Association was officially founded on March 14, 2012. The association aims to promote understanding and cooperation between the people of Turkey and Afghanistan, provide social assistance, and particularly support the education of Hazaras. With its headquarters in Trabzon, the association has representatives in numerous cities across Turkey.

The association continues to organize annual commemoration ceremonies for Ustad Mezari, a significant figure in the Hazara community. The most recent commemoration, held in 2012, was attended by over 700 people, including Turkish and Afghan parliamentarians.

Chairman of the AHCSA

Muhammet GÜL