KABUL (SW) – In an exclusive series of interviews, members of the neglected nomad (Jogi) communities in Afghanistan told Salam Watandar they continue to grapple with relentless challenges, such as extreme poverty, social discrimination, lack of legal identity, early marriages, and limited access to education and healthcare.
This latest report based on interviews with 30 members of this community, including 16 women, sheds light on their painful experiences in “prison” and the harsh realities of life under “discrimination”.
In the heart of Afghanistan, in the “Khairkhana” area of the capital Kabul, nearly 300 Jogi families live in tents and in difficult conditions without the most basic facilities for life.
They report being “detained and beaten” by the de-facto government forces for periods ranging from one day to 21 days due to their work on the streets and begging.
These women express that the Islamic Emirate government obstructs their ability to work, yet they see no alternative means of survival. Although they were promised assistance by the de-facto government and were officially recognized, none have received any aid thus far.
One of the women, named Mazari, says that economic pressures and a lack of resources have forced her into begging. Despite the absence of the de-facto government support, she has been imprisoned and beaten multiple times.
“I have eight children and I’ve suffered from mental and neurotic illness for 16 years. We haven’t been able to see a doctor. They detain and imprison us. They’ve arrested me five times, and I was imprisoned for 11 days, where I was severely beaten,” Mazari said.
Raziya, a pregnant woman and mother of four, shares a similar story. She has been imprisoned several times for selling goods and begging.
“One of my children is four years old and paralyzed. The [Islamic Emirate] forces have arrested me three times, claiming they would help but they didn’t. They wanted to imprison me for 21 days; as I was pregnant, they released me. Now I sell pens and masks, but if I beg, they arrest.”
Another woman from Jogi community, Mahtab, recounts being imprisoned multiple times for selling goods, without receiving any help from the de-facto government or aid organizations.
“I had one child who died when he was two months old. My husband is old and weak, and can’t work. I sell pens, paper, and tissues. The [Islamic Emirate] forces arrested me four times, beating me for working. Once, I was detained for a day; another time for two days,” she said.
While the history and migration of the Jogis to Afghanistan are not widely documented, reports indicate that they are dispersed across several countries, including Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Iran, and Afghanistan. Jogis are traditionally engaged in fortune-telling and begging.
Jogi elders told Salam Watandar that they have sought refuge in Afghanistan for over 100 years. Due to their lack of identity recognition and birth certificates, they have been unable to pursue education or hold formal jobs.
The Jogis face severe deprivation of basic services and encounter discrimination, forcing them into roadside work, fortune-telling, and begging.
Jogi women’s struggles for food security and basic services
Sixteen Jogi women told Salam Watandar that access to food security and basic services has become an unattainable dream for them.
Some of the nomad women described the frequent hunger, humiliation, and deprivation of basic rights as their new normal life, viewing access to these as mere dreams.
Malika, a 30-year-old mother of six, said, “My husband was hit by a car seven months ago and is still unwell. We eat potatoes and rice daily. We face many hardships, we have no land, no water, no school, and no access to healthcare. We rented two tents for 370 afghanis each month.”
Layluma, a 20-year-old widow taking care of her family, “I became a widow a year after my wedding and was four months pregnant when my husband passed away. I couldn’t afford treatment for my husband’s heart condition. I returned to my father’s house and now collect plastic and beg, with no access to healthcare.”
The Jogi women are not the only ones deprived of basic services; their children also voice grievances about their denied rights and unfulfilled dreams.
Jogi children: Deprived of education and life’s basic rights
Some of Jogi children express to Salam Watandar that they are deprived of education and basic rights due to poverty, lack of legal identity, and discrimination.
Firoza, a 13-year-old who dreams of becoming a doctor, feels her aspirations crushed by the lack of official identity and educational opportunities. “I wanted to be a doctor but now sell pens, gums, and water. The security forces arrested me three times, detaining me for 21 days, where their women beat me,” she said.
“Because of our poor economic conditions, I can’t attend school. My biggest wish is to study and wear nice clothes. I hope to escape poverty and live well like other people,” said Zubaida, a 16 years old Jogi girl.
Likewise, Abdul Qahar, 10-year-old, explained his fears: “I read the Quran in the mosque and want to go to school, but since there is none for us, I can’t. I’m afraid to work because the security forces might arrest me.”
Lack of identity and birth certificates
One of the most pressing issues facing the Jogi community is the absence of legal identity such as birth certificates, which restricts them from accessing many social rights, including education, healthcare, and employment opportunities.
Elders of the Jogi community indicate that they have lived in Afghanistan for over 100 years but still lack a stable identity or home. They mention that discrimination and bias have forced them to migrate from place to place, making it impossible to secure work, housing, or education, ultimately compelling them to beg.
Abdul Qader, a Jogi man, voices concerns about life’s struggles and the discrimination they face: “We are grappling with poverty, lack of shelter, and basic services. Despite our efforts, I completed school amidst numerous challenges, but because of being a Jogi, I have not found any employment.”
He adds that although some Jogis received birth certificates during the Republic, the process has since stalled.
“Our major issue is that we lack shelter. I graduated from the 12th grade, but discrimination continues. When I was in school, I faced mockery and harsh treatment. Because of economic difficulties, I couldn’t pursue higher education or secure a job.”
Quldash Nezami, a Jogi elder residing in Kabul, says that the Jogi community primarily resides in Kabul, Kunduz, and Mazar-e-Sharif city. He highlights that the Jogis’ original settlement is in Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, and they have sought refuge in Afghanistan due to political and geographic upheavals. Nezami mentions that they face barriers in acquiring identity documents and are often told the distribution process is halted.
“The main issue is that in all 34 provinces, we have no land or place. We have been unable to secure educational or living arrangements; renting land costs us 6,500 afghanis for one jerib, and we can only pay 500 Afghanis monthly for housing. 300 families live here. Many don’t have birth certificates; currently, only I have a paper certificate that I managed to obtain during the Republic after much effort but couldn’t obtain the electronic one,” he described.
Activists and sociologists emphasize that the lack of healthcare and life’s basic services has severely impacted the Jogi community.
Tahmina Mangal, a women’s rights activist, states: “Jogi women face numerous problems, which may lead them to engage in criminal activities. Their primary reasons are poverty and lack of identity. Organizations and the government must implement awareness programs and provide basic services and mobile clinics.”
Ahmad Rashed Sediqi, a sociologist, insists that individuals living in a geographical area should legally be considered citizens and entitled to equal rights. He said: “The Jogi community should have all rights as an ethnic group. Discrimination complicates social dynamics, and it is the responsibility of the state to provide basic services to all communities; otherwise, this will lead to societal discord.”
Legal experts maintain that individuals who reside permanently in a country, adhering to cultural and legal norms, have the right to apply for citizenship.
Hekmatullah Fayaz, a legal expert and university professor, says: “Those who reside permanently in a country can apply for citizenship after five years to enjoy the same rights as other citizens. Those who have lived here for over 100 years and comply with the law have a right to citizenship.”
In response, Abdul Mutaleb Haqqani, spokesperson for the Ministry of Repatriation and Refugees (MoRR), states that the Jogi community is categorized as internally displaced people and plans are in place to distribute land in various provinces to them.
“They are included among the internally displaced people. All assistance provided to other refugees will also be extended to them. In the future, we plan to resettle them in designated areas or provinces from Kabul.”
The National Statistics and Information Authority (NSIA) has also announced that the process of issuing identity documents for the Jogi community will soon commence.
Mohammad Halim Rafiq, the NSIA spokesperson, said: “A procedure has been created, and while the distribution process is currently paused, it will resume shortly.”
Furthermore, Taslimullah Haqqani, spokesperson for the Ministry of Borders and Tribal affairs, said that the Jogi community has not yet participated in tribal councils but emphasizes that they will be allowed to enter if proposed by their elders.
“The ministry organizes regular tribal councils in every province, allowing community leaders to participate and share their issues. If this community has not participated, they can approach the ministry in Kabul to address their concerns,” he explained.
The Jogis, known as Luli in Tajikistan and as Koli in Iran, are said to have originally migrated from India to Central Asian countries.
Educational levels among the Jogi community remain low in all these nations. A few have obtained higher education, prestigious positions, and profitable businesses, however, it has been said that the majority of them do not allow their children, particularly daughters, to attend school, instead training them to beg for money from a young age.
