IRB – Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada (Autor): „Information on the Vahdateh Islami (Hezb-e Wahdat-e Eslami) or the Islamic Unity Party (IUP) [AFG19428.E]“, Dokument #1271581

Information on the Vahdateh Islami (Hezb-e Wahdat-e Eslami) or the Islamic Unity Party (IUP) [AFG19428.E]

According to the attached articles, Hezb-e Wahdat-e Eslami or the Islamic Unity Party (IUP) is a pro-Iranian party of Afghanistan's Shia minority, known as Hazaras. Abdol Ali Mazari is the IUP leader. Following the 1992 collapse of the Communist regime of Afghanistan, this party, which had demanded 25 per cent of cabinet positions in the Afghan government for the Shias, joined the provisional government of the Afghan Mojahedin in Kabul (BBC Summary 17 July 1992; AP 23 Sept. 1992; TASS 24 Sept. 1992).

The dissatisfaction with the distribution of power among the Mojahedin groups forming the provisional government instigated the civil war in Afghanistan, which pitted different Afghan groups representing different regions, ethnic groups and Muslim sects against each other. Dissatisfied with its share of power after a short period of cooperation with the provisional government, the IUP joined other groups fighting against the primarily Tajik dominated Kabul government led by President Burhanuddin Rabbani, which it described as "illegitimate" (BBC Summary of World Broadcasts 12 and 19 Jan. 1993; The Christian Science Monitor, 23 Feb. 1993; Jane's Intelligence Review 1 Mar. 1993).

Despite its opposition to the Kabul government, the IUP declared neutrality when the Uzbek National Islamic Front for Northern Afghanistan (NIFNA), led by General Dustum, along with the Islamic Party of Gulbeddin Hekmatyar, initiated a new round of fighting against that government (TASS 4 Jan. 1994). In 1994 the IUP joined a coalition of Afghan groups consisting of the NIFNA, the Islamic Party and the National Islamic Salvation Front, which were fighting the Kabul government (Xinhua 7 Dec. 1994).

Attached please also find the BBC Summary of World Broadcasts of 13 October 1993 and 16 October 1992, which refer to the fighting in Kabul involving the IUP and to the merger of Afghanistan's Hezbollah Party with the IUP in October 1992, respectively.

This response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the DIRB within time constraints. This response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum.

References

The Associated Press (AP). 23 September 1992. AM Cycle. John Jennings. "Shiite Group Joins Afghan Government." (NEXIS)

BBC Summary of World Broadcasts. 19 January 1993. "Wahdat-e Eslami Leader Denounces Government." (NEXIS)

_____. 12 January 1993. "Sporadic Clashes and Rocketing Continuing in Kabul." (NEXIS)

_____. 17 July 1992. "Shi'a Leader Calls for 25% Share in Government." (NEXIS)

The Christian Science Monitor [Boston]. 23 February 1993. Jim Muir. "Afghanistan Faces Disintegration as Rebel Factions Fight Each Other." (NEXIS)

Jane's Intelligence Review. 1 March 1993. Anthony Davis. "The Afghan Army." (NEXIS)

The Telegraph Agency of the Soviet Union (TASS). 4 January 1994. Sergei Bulantsev. "Fierce Fighting in Afghanistan." (NEXIS)

_____. 24 September 1992. "Why Did the Shi'ites Join the Rabbani Government." (NEXIS)

Xinhua News Agency. 7 December 1994. "Afghan Groups to New Round of Indirect Talks." (NEXIS)

Attachments

The Associated Press (AP). 23 September 1992. AM Cycle. John Jennings. "Shiite Group Joins Afghan Government." (NEXIS)

BBC Summary of World Broadcasts. 31 October 1994. "Internal Affairs; Faction Leaders Mojaddedi and Mazari Meet West of Kabul." (NEXIS)

_____. 13 October 1993. "Fighting in Kabul; Ceasefire Negotiations Reportedly under Way." (NEXIS)

_____. 19 January 1993. "Wahdat-e Eslami Leader Denounces Government." (NEXIS)