The Harakat-e Eslami Afghanistan or the Islamic Movement of Afghanistan is a pro-governement Shi'a party (AFP 24 May 1994; BBC Summary 20 Sept. 1994; Keesing's Sept. 1994, 40185). Described as a radical Islamic party (Asia Watch Feb. 1991, 136; Afghanistan: A Country Study 1986, 282), the organization is led by Ayatollah Mohammed Assef Mohseni and is believed to have about 20,000 members (Documentation-Réfugiés 26 Oct.-8 Nov. 1993, 1; Islam and Islamic Groups: A Worldwide Reference Guide 1992, 5). Originally pro-Iranian, the organization reportedly had serious political differences with Tehran by the mid 1980s (Afghanistan: A Country Study 1986, 282; Asian Survey Sept. 1993, 918; Maley and Saikal 1992, 19).

Reports obtained by the DIRB indicate that the organization moved its headquarters from Iran (Asia Watch Feb. 1991, 136) to Hazarajat in central Afghanistan (Afghanistan: A Country Study 1986, 282) and in 1989 to Peshawar in Pakistan (Islam and Islamic Groups: A Worldwide Reference Guide 1992, 5; Asian Survey Sept. 1993, 918).

According to a September 1993 Amnesty International report, the group has influence in Shi'a areas (1993, 10). For further information on this subject, including recent reports on clashes between the Harakat-e Eslami and the Hezb-i Wahdat-i-Islami members, please refer to Response to Information Request AFG19334.E of 18 January 1995 as well as to the attachments.

Information on the current place of residence of Ayatollah Mohseni, the Harakat-e Eslami Afghanistan's leader, and on whether the group has any links with the Iranian Mujahadeen-e Khalq could not be found among the sources consulted by the DIRB.

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. Please find attached the list of sources consulted in researching this information request.

Afghanistan: A Country Study. 1986. Edited by Richard F. Nyrop and Donald M. Seekins. Washington, DC: Secretary of the Army.

Agence France Presse (AFP). 24 May 1994. "Au moins 5 morts à Kaboul dans des combats entre factions chiites rivales." (NEXIS)

Amnesty International. September 1993. Afghanistan: Political Crisis and the Refugees. (AI Index: ASA 11/01/93). London: Amnesty International.

Asia Watch. February 1991. Afghanistan: The Forgotten War: Human Rights Abuses and Violations of the Laws of War Since the Soviet Withdrawal. New York: Asia Watch.

Asian Survey [Berkeley]. September 1993. Vol. 33, No. 9. Rasul Bakhsh Rais. "Afghanistan and the Regional Powers."

BBC Summary of World Broadcasts. 20 September 1994. "West Kabul; Heavy Fighting Between Rival Factions." (NEXIS)

Documentation-Réfugiés [Paris]. 26 October-8 November 1993. No. 228. "Supplément pays: Répertoire des partis et mouvements islamistes en Asie."

Islam and Islamic Groups: A Worldwide Reference Guide. 1992. Edited by Farzana Shaikh. London: Longman UK Group.

Keesing's Record of World Events [Cambridge]. September 1994. Vol. 40, No. 9. "Afghanistan: Clashes Between Shia Factions."

Maley, William and Fazel Haq Saikal. 1992. Political Order in Post-Communist Afghanistan. Boulder, Col.: Lynne Rienner Publishers.

Agence France Presse (AFP). 24 May 1994. "Au moins 5 morts à Kaboul dans des combats entre factions chiites rivales." (NEXIS)

Amnesty International. September 1993. Afghanistan: Political Crisis and the Refugees. (AI Index: ASA 11/01/93). London: Amnesty International, pp. 1, 10-15.

Afghanistan: A Country Study. 1986. Edited by Richard F. Nyrop and Richard M. Seekins. Washington, DC: Secretary of the Army, pp. 281-82.

Asia Watch. February 1991. Afghanistan: The Forgotten War: Human Rights Abuses and Violations of the Laws of War Since the Soviet Withdrawal. New York: Asia Watch, pp. 135-38.

Asian Survey [Berkeley]. September 1993. Vol. 33, No. 9. Rasul Bakhsh Rais. "Afghanistan and the Regional Powers," pp. 905-22.

BBC Summary of World Broadcasts. 20 September 1994. "West Kabul; Heavy Fighting Between Rival Factions." (NEXIS)

Documentation-Réfugiés [Paris]. 26 October-8 November 1993. No. 228. "Supplément pays: Répertoire des partis et mouvements islamistes en Asie," p. 1.

Ettela'at [Tehran, in Persian]. 21 September 1994. "Islamic Unity Party Member on Internecine Strife." (FBIS-NES-94-193 5 Oct. 1994, pp. 47-48)

Islam and Islamic Groups: A Worldwide Reference Guide. 1992. Edited by Farzana Shaikh. London: Longman Group UK, p. 5.

Keesing's Record of World Events [Cambridge]. September 1994. Vol. 40, No. 9. "Afghanistan: Clashes Between Shia Factions," p. 40185.

Maley, William and Fazel Haq Saikal. 1992. Political Order in Post-Communist Afghanistan. Boulder, Col.: Lynne Rienner, pp. 13-20.

Radio Afghanistan Network [Kabul, in Pashto]. 25 December 1994. "Thirty Prisoners Reported Taken in Shia Clashes." (FBIS-NES-94-248 27 Dec. 1994, p. 45)

_____. 30 November 1994. "Harakat-e Eslami Commander Released from Jail." (FBIS-NES-94-231 1 Dec. 1994, p. 43)

_____. 23 April 1994. "Harakat-e Eslami Statement Denounces Fighting." (FBIS-NES-94-079 25 Apr. 1994, p. 73)

Revolutionary and Dissident Movements: An International Guide. 3rd Edition. London: Longman Group UK, p. 3.

The Telegraph Agency of the Soviet Union (TASS). 16 September 1994. "Afghanistan: Heavy Fighting Between Shi'ites." (NEXIS)

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