Hazara Students Killed in Afghanistan

As about 600 students prepared to take a practice exam for college entry, a suicide bomber killed at least 19 and injured more than 27 on Friday. The school is located in the mostly Hazara Shia Muslim minority neighborhood of Dasht-e-Barchi, Kabul, and many of the victims were girls.

The Taliban has forbidden girls to continue their schooling beyond sixth grade, and few women are allowed to work. They are required to cover themselves from head to toe with only an opening for their eyes, and those who do not are at risk of arrest for violating the morality code. In the last year, many girls in Afghanistan have “disappeared,” abducted and forced to marry one of the Taliban.

By contrast, Hazara women traditionally wear bright green and red floral dresses with heavy stockings and fur-lined boots, beaded headgear and heavy necklaces strung with coins. Many pre-Taliban Hazara women were highly educated, and served in professions such as teaching, medicine, and even politics. They even fought beside Hazara men in battle.

The Hazara have already lost more than half their population due to ethnic cleansing by Pashtun rulers and the Sunni Muslim Taliban over the years, but after international troops withdrew last year, violence has increased all the more against this ancient people group native to Afghanistan. 

Lord, please comfort those who mourn, and heal those who have been wounded. Have mercy on the Hazara, and especially the women. Be a Shield around them and draw them up into Your arms, for they have not yet heard Your good news. Romans 10:14-15. Please, Lord, cross every barrier. Break through religion, culture and lack of access to the Bible, and show them who You are. Meet them in their dreams. Bring Christians across their path who will share the Gospel in a way they can easily understand. Protect the Hazara from harm and provide for all their needs in such a way that they will know it is You. Fight for their salvation and for the salvation of those who persecute them. O Lord, pierce the darkness over Afghanistan with Your light. March in with Your angel armies and fight for the souls of those who have only ever known violence and hatred. The enemy has killed, stolen and destroyed, but Your offer of abundant life still stands. John 10:10. Have mercy, O God of Love, and show the Hazara the way to You before it’s too late. Shelter the children and youth. Be a Shield for every woman and girl. Watch over innocent hearts, and draw them to Yourself. Matthew 19:14. Give both the Hazara and their persecutors such a hunger for You they will travel far and wide to seek Your truth. Sweep across that nation with the floodwaters of Your love, breaking ancient chains of destruction, violence, murder, hatred, and war; and releasing every heart to receive Your salvation. Yes, Holy Spirit, come now. Awaken the Hazara, the Taliban and all the peoples of Afghanistan to Love.

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