13. August 2012

In einer Übersicht aus dem Jahr 2001 beschreibt BBC die schiitischen Ismailiten als eine regionalbezogene religiöse Minderheit. Ethnisch würden sich die Ismailiten vor allem aus Hazara, Tadschiken und Paschtunen zusammensetzen (BBC, 2001).

 

Wie das US Department of State (USDOS) in seinem Länderbericht zur Religionsfreiheit vom Juli 2012 (Berichtszeitraum: 2011) bemerkt, leben die Ismailiten vor allem konzentriert im nordöstlichen Landesteil Afghanistans. In der nordafghanischen Stadt Mazar-e Sharif würden sowohl Sunniten als auch Schiiten, darunter auch Ismailiten, leben. In Kabul und anderen Gebieten würde die Bevölkerung unter anderem Sunniten, Schiiten, Sikhs, Hindus und Bahai umfassen:

„Different religious groups are concentrated in specific regions. Sunni Pashtuns dominate the south and east. The homeland of the Shia Hazaras is in the Hazarajat, the mountainous central highland provinces around Bamyan province. Ismaili populations are normally clustered in the northeast. Other areas, including Kabul, are more heterogeneous and include Sunni, Shia, Sikh, Hindu, and Baha’i populations. The northern city of Mazar-e Sharif includes a mix of Sunnis (including ethnic Pashtuns, Turkmen, Uzbeks, and Tajiks) and Shia (Hazaras and Qizilbash), including Shia Ismailis.” (USDOS, 30. Juli 2012 Section 1)

Der an der University of Toronto tätige Erziehungswissenschaftler Sarfaroz Niyozov schrieb im März 2002, dass Ismailiten-Gemeinden in Kabul und im Kayan-Tal der Provinz Baghlan (wo sie einen ethnischen Hazara-Hintergrund hätten) sowie in der Grenzregion Badakhshan leben würden (Niyozov, März 2002).

Das UNO-Flüchtlingshochkommissariat (UNHCR) berichtet in seinem Protection Overview zu Nord- und Nordostafghanistan vom Mai 2011 wie folgt über die Sicherheitslage in der Region sowie über ismailitische Familien nahe der Stadt Pul-i Khumri in der Provinz Baghlan:

„Since the fall of the Taliban in 2001, both the Northern Region (NR1) and the North-Eastern Region (NER) were considered as secure, affected only by frequent but geographically limited inter-ethnic tensions. Some of which, resulted in displacement triggered by persecution and/ or intimidation. In 2010, however, the region has been progressively affected by the turmoil of direct hostilities between Anti Government Elements (AGE) and Pro-Government Forces (PGF).” (UNHCR, 11. Mai 2011, S. 2)

„8. Baghlan

A group of 63 Ismaili returnee families claim that 10 Jeribs of land was allocated for each by the Najibullah Government in 1988. In 1998, when the AGE (captured the province, the Ismailis were forced to flee to Pakistan but in 2002 they returned to Afghanistan. However the Larkhabi tribe which lives across the road from the disputed land prevented the Ismailis from accessing the area by claiming ownership to the particular land. Currently the Ismailis are living in displacement in an area close to Pul-I-Khumri of Baghlan province.” (UNHCR, 11. Mai 2011, S. 24)

Der oben zitierte Länderbericht des US Department of State (USDOS) zur Religionsfreiheit im Jahr 2011 geht wie folgt auf die Lage von Schiiten und Ismailiten in Afghanistan ein:

„Although four Ismailis serve as members of Parliament, some members of the Ismaili community complained of being marginalized from positions of political authority.” (USDOS, 30. Juli 2012, Section 2)

„Historically, the minority Shia faced discrimination from the majority Sunni population. As Shia representation increased in government, overt discrimination by Sunnis against the Shia community decreased. However, Sunni resentment over growing Shia influence was expressed widely and often linked to claims of Iranian efforts to influence local culture and politics. Most Shia are members of the Hazara ethnic group, which was traditionally segregated from the rest of society for a combination of political, historical, ethnic, and religious factors, some of which resulted in conflicts. Although there were reported incidents of unofficial discrimination, and treatment varied by locality, Shia generally were free to participate fully in public life.

Although there was some harassment of Ismailis during the year, prominent Ismailis were lauded in the news media for funding the inauguration of the world’s largest Qur’an.” (USDOS, 30. Juli 2012, Section 3)

In seinem Länderbericht zur Menschenrechtslage vom Mai 2012 (Berichtsjahr: 2011) schreibt das US Department of State (USDOS) bezüglich der Situation der Ismailiten:

„Ismailis (a minority Shia Muslim group whose members follow the Aga Khan) generally were not targeted or seriously discriminated against, according to NGOs.” (USDOS, 24. Mai 2012, Section 6)

Die US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) berichtet in ihrem Jahresbericht vom März 2012 (Berichtszeitraum: April 2011 - Februar 2012):

„Hazara Shi‘a Muslims participate fully in public life, including in parliament and in senior positions in the Karzai government. Fifty-nine of 249 parliamentary seats are held by Hazara Shi‘a Muslims. In addition, four Ismaili Muslims, followers of a branch of Shi‘a Islam, were also elected.” (USCIRF, März 2012, S. 287)

Die Website Afghan Biographies enthält folgende, mit Oktober 2009 datierte Angaben zu einer Person namens Sayed Mansur (Mansoor) Naderi (Nadiri), der Anführer und zentrale Autorität der afghanischen Ismailiten sei:

„Haji Sayyad Sayed Mansoor Mansur Nadiri Nadri (also Sayed Nadir Kayan) was born 1940 in Baghlan Province. He bagged most votes in Wolesi Jirga Elections 2005. He was a member of the Committee on Central Audit and observing the Implementation of Law.

Nadiri is a warlord of Baghlan province, and was a previous Vice-President of Afghanistan. He holds the honorary title of Sayed of Kayan, one of the highest honors in the Islamic world. Naderi's 80th armoured division, based in Pul-i-Khumri, defected to the Mujahideen in 1992, and followed Dostum's alliance shifting afterwards.

Nadiri is the head of the Afghan Ismaelis and their central authority. Within the Ismai’ili demographic are two subgroups — Bohra and Nizari. Nadiri belongs to the Nizari. The current Imam of the Isma’ili Nizari Muslims is the Aga Khan. The pir or leader of Afghan Ismailis comes from the Sayyid family of Kayan, located near Doshi, a small town at the northern foot of the Salang Pass, in western Baghlan Province. During the Soviet-Afghan War this family acquired considerable political power. […]

Nadiri is the Head of his own Party: Hizb-e Paiwand-e Melli-ye Afghanistan (National Solidarity Party of Afghanistan)” (Afghan Biographies, 12. Oktober 2009)

CNN berichtet in einem Artikel vom Mai 2011 wie folgt über die Familie Naderi:

„In February 2010, Hannam flew to Kabul to see the situation on the ground. Brinkley took him to a reception at the American ambassador's home. There, Hannam met an Afghan businessman named Sadat Naderi. British educated, smooth, and brimming with energy and ambition, Naderi ran a diversified company that included insurance, logistics, and supermarkets. […]

Naderi was an Ismaili, a member of a Shiite sect. […] Progressive in their views toward women and education, Ismailis are renowned businessmen. The Ismailis' religious leader, the Aga Khan, presides over a vast charitable and business network that includes the Serena Hotel chain. The sect has a long-standing relationship with the British, dating back to the 1840s, when Ismailis provided British armies in Afghanistan with cavalry and intelligence.

Naderi's father was the religious leader of all the Ismailis in Afghanistan. The family has several mansions and a palace in their home village, Kayan, which has athletic facilities and a train, and once had a zoo. Naderi's brother Jafar had been a militia commander during the last days of Soviet occupation, with a 12,000-member private army. […] During the Taliban era, the Naderis had fled for their lives, and Osama bin Laden briefly occupied their palace in Kayan.” (CNN, 11. Mai 2011)

Das deutsche Nachrichtenmagazin Der Spiegel schreibt im Juni 2012, dass ein Milliardär namens Prinz Karim al-Husseini der Aga Khan, der religiöse Führer der Ismailiten (weltweit), sei:

„In places where hardly a tourist would dare to venture, the Serena Hotel chain offers its guests soft beds, fresh fruit and high security. But surrounded by barbed wire and concrete walls, is this war-zone luxury niche viable? […]

The chain is owned by the Aga Khan Development Network, the largest private development agency in the world. At the helm sits the billionaire prince Karim al-Husseini, 75, whose wealth and penchant for beautiful women have entrenched him as a darling of the tabloid press. He made headlines last autumn when he paid his ex-wife €60 million in their divorce settlement.

Al-Husseini is also the Aga Khan, the religious leader of the Ismailis. A liberal community of Shia Muslims, the Ismailis have about 20 million followers worldwide. The Aga Khan is believed to be a direct descendant of the Prophet Mohammed, which means al-Husseini has a legacy to foster.

Over more than half a century, he has built up a widespread network of development foundations working in 16 countries across the globe.” (Spiegel, 13. Juni 2012)

Die deutsche Tageszeitung (Taz) erwähnt in einem Artikel vom Juli 2012, dass der Aga Khan in Paris lebe:

„In den Schluchten des Pamirgebirges leben 200.000 Menschen, die meisten davon sind Ismailiten, eine schiitische Sekte, die den in Paris lebenden Aga Khan als direkten Nachfolger Mohammeds verehren. Den Ismailiten ist jeder religiöser Fanatismus fern.“ (Taz, 30. Juli 2012)

In den ACCORD derzeit zur Verfügung stehenden Quellen konnten im Rahmen der zeitlich begrenzten Recherche keine weiteren aktuellen Informationen zu Glaubensführern der Ismailiten gefunden werden.

 

 

Quellen: (Zugriff auf alle Quellen am 13. August 2012)

·      Afghan Biographies: Nadiri, Al-Haj Sayyad Mansoor Mansur Naderi, 12. Oktober 2009

·      BBC: War in Afghanistan: Key Maps: Ethnic Groups, 2001

·      CNN: J.P. Morgan's hunt for Afghan gold, 11. Mai 2011

·      Niyozov, Sarfaroz: UK Evolution of the Shi‘a Ismaili Tradition in Central Asia, März 2002

·      Der Spiegel: Luxury Hotels Tap into Conflict-Zone Market, 13. Juni 2012

·      Taz – Die Tageszeitung: Gefährliche Spannungen, 30. Juli 2012

·      UNHCR - UN High Commissioner for Refugees: Afghanistan Protection Cluster: Protection Overview (Northern and North-Eastern Region - 2010), 11. Mai 2011 (verfügbar auf ecoi.net) http://www.ecoi.net/file_upload/1226_1305723532_4dd21fe52.pdf

·      USCIRF - U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom: Annual Report 2012 , März 2012

·      USDOS - US Department of State: Country Reports on Human Rights Practices 2011 - Afghanistan, 24. Mai 2012 (verfügbar auf ecoi.net)

·      USDOS - US Department of State: 2011 International Religious Freedom Report - Afghanistan, 30. Juli 2012 (Berichtszeitraum: 2011) (verfügbar auf ecoi.net)