KABUL, AFGHANISTAN, June 10, 2002: Afghanistan’s tiny Hindu and Sikh communities, forced to the brink of extinction by the Taleban regime, are hoping to make a social and political re-emergence at the Loya Jirga Assembly from June 10 to 16. Community leaders said their presence at the assembly was a reassertion of the rights of the nation’s only non-Muslim minorities and that they expected the tribal gathering to alleviate the suffering of the country’s 30,000 Sikhs and Hindus, most of who have fled.” We want somebody who would treat all Afghans — irrespective of their religious and ethnic backgrounds — as his own equal children,” said Awtar Singh, a delegate to the Loya Jirga from the eastern province of Paktia. Sikhs and Hindus, united in adversity, are close in Afghanistan. In predominantly Muslim Afghanistan, they share the same temples as well as many religious ceremonies.”We are from Afghanistan, having to share its every joy and grief. Loya Jirga is very important for us because we have suffered under the Taleban, we had our temples destroyed,” he said. Autar Singh, an ex-officer from the Paktia Army Corps, recounted a long list of edicts announced by the religious militia which were aimed at eventually ridding Afghanistan of its Hindu and Sikh population. “We were told not to wear Muslim outfits, not to carry guns, not to mingle with Muslims, not to build more temples, to wear yellow clothes and to put up yellow flags on our houses and shops,” he said.
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