Information on the treatment of the Zoroastrian community in Afghanistan could not be found among the sources currently available to the DIRB.

However, according to a representative of the Zoroastrian Society of Ontario, there are only one or two hundred Zoroastrians living in Afghanistan (4 Mar. 1994). The source stated that the majority of Zoroastrians in Afghanistan live in "Khander" which he described as being "near the Iranian border" (ibid.). The source stated that to his knowledge, only a few Zoroastrians merchants live in Kabul (ibid.). He added that the exact number of Zoroastrians living in Islamic countries is difficult to calculate because many Zoroastrians claim to be muslims or do not openly profess their faith in order to escape discrimination or persecution (ibid.).

A past president of the same organization also stated that there are only a few hundred Zoroastrians in Afghanistan, and that a number of these may have moved to Afghanistan from Iran in the recent past in order to escape persecution (7 Mar. 1994).

Neither source had knowledge concerning the treatment of Zoroastrians in Afghanistan (4 Mar. 1994; 7 Mar. 1994). Interim Afghan governments have, however, sought to promote adherence to strict Islamic codes of conduct (Country Reports 1992 1993, 1117).

For additional information concerning the Zoroastrian community in general, please refer to Response to Information Request AFG16198.E (19 January 1994), IRN3103 (1 December 1989), IRN14113 (26 May 1993), and PAK12593 (10 December 1992) available at your Regional Documentation Centre) and attached documents.

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.

Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 1992. 1993. United States Department of State. Washington, DC.: United States Government Printing Office.

Zoroastrian Society of Ontario, Toronto. 4 March 1994. Telephone interview with representative.

Zoroastrian Society of Ontario, Toronto. 7 March 1994. Telephone interview with past president.

Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 1992. 1993. United States Department of State. Washington, DC.: United States Government Printing Office, p. 1117.

The Encyclopedia of Religion. 1987. Vol. 11. Edited by Mircea Eliade. New York: MacMillian Publishing Company, pp. 199-201.

Financial Times. 14 May 1992. Colin Barraclough. "Iran Pulls Out the Biggest Plum from Afghan Pie: Tehran has Won Influence Via the Persian Speakers who Now Control Kabul." (NEXIS)

The Vancouver Sun. 22 March 1993. 1* Edition. Mariken Van Nimwegen. "Persians get Fired Up to Mark New Year." (NEXIS)

World Directory of Minorities. 1990. London: Minority Rights Groups International.

World Minorities in the Eighties. 1980. London: Quartermaine House.

Critique: Review of the Department of State's Country Reports on Human Rights Practices. Yearly. New York: Lawyers Committee for Human Rights.

The New Encyclopedia Britannica. 1989. 15th ed. Edited by Philip W. Goetz. Chicago: Encyclopedia Britannica Inc.

The Europa World Year Book. Yearly. London: Europa Publications Ltd.

Human Rights Watch. Yearly. Human Rights Watch World Report. New York: Human Rights Watch.

International Handbook on Human Rights. 1986. Edited by J. Donnelly and R.E. Howard. New York: Greenwood Press.

World Human Rights Guide. 1986. London: The Economist.

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