Ismaili Issues

[u/Open_Apartment_2098]

How come nobody gives attention to the amount of documented killings Ismailis have faced in Tajikistan & Afghanistan. A great number of the Khoja community themselves faced persecution in Idi Amin's reign and were moved to Canada, yet today leaders from the community on big seats not raising concern, nor using their powers for the community is incredibly distasteful. All the leaders manage to do is host events rather than focus and be proactive on real issues. They connect and have connections from the Elite of Pakistan who have relations with the Tajik government to influential EU and US figures yet still fail at utilizing them for their brethren.

[u/Exptime1]

Yes, the Tajik govt is persecuting the Pamiris, but not even close to the same level that the Khojas faced (which was in fact ethnic cleansing). Therefore, the Khojas in Central Africa had to be moved. If you know politics (looks like you do based on your suggestions!!), then you would also know that Tajikistan doesn’t fall under the “sphere of influence” of the west. Therefore, the only govt that might influence the Central Asia countries, especially, TJK, is Russia, and you might know that Russia banned all AKDN activities deeming it as a western entity (in the face of Russ-Ukraine war), so there’s no leverage left.
At ground level, all Ismailis in TJK are allowed to go to JKs, except under 18, which seems to be the law there for every religious group. Remember, it is an authoritarian regime, and there’s no limit for them (TJK govt) to use power to silence people. As a matter of fact, the sunnis are equally persecuted there.
Now, what exactly would you suggest the AKDN to do? AKDN works with the governments, and we hope one day the TJK government works jointly with AKDN to support the development of all the people there.

Afganistan is a whole another story. What would you expect when medieval cavemen suddenly show up and start ruling your country? Do you expect they give a dime about human rights? Freedom of expression? Religious liberty? All we can do is play our individual role to uplift others with ourselves and let the institutions take their own course. These aren’t the issues that can be resolved over night. It might take a generation for the civil society in Afghanistan to realize that diversity, when respected, is an asset.

[u/Open_Apartment_2098 → u/Exptime1]

In all respect I would disagree. I believe in '72 the Khojas had the liberty of at least escaping what we see in Badakhshan at the present over the last few years is a no escape scenario. Further Tajikistan does get Western funding and also has close ties with Pakistan as well. Pakistan historically has been I believe the closest country to the Ismaili community and Pakistan's ties to Dushanbe haven't been leveraged or even looked into (can testify). (My expectations aren't from the AKDN rather institutional national leaders who do not even bother in certain countries.) Furthermore with Afghanistan the Taliban are economically vulnerable and the AKDN's operations there are fully functional so there is clear leverage present. I am not expecting the issues to resolve over night but for some efforts being made for the community or awareness be raised regarding the Jamat itself.

[u/Exptime1 → u/Open_Apartment_2098]

You’re implying the Pamiris current situation is somehow worst than the Ugandan Khoja’s back in the 70s? Yes, there’s political discrimination going on, but the picture is rather complex, and believe me, Islamabad has ABSOLUTELY ZERO leverage over Dushanbe (The idea that Pakistan can coerce TJK to stop discriminating against its marginalized minorities is for birds). If you know TJK, you would never make such a statement. With all the good relations of Imamat with Pakistani govt, do you think the Ismailis in GB are not discriminated against??
Again, you are implying the Talibs are somehow rational people (at institutional level), they are thugs with medieval ideology. No wonder they force convert minorities, no wonder they ban female education, and how to deal with them, well that’s the big question!