Fifteenth anniversary of martyrdom of Abdul Ali Mazari

Tens of thousands of people gather in west Kabul to commemorate Abdul Ali Mazari's fifteenth anniversary. In attendance was, vice-presidents, Qasim Fahim and Mohammad Karim Khalili, the leader of People’s Unity Party of Afghanistan. Kabul, Afganistan. 12/03/2010.

Today is the fifteenth anniversary of martyrdom of Abdul Ali Mazari, the former political leader of Unity Party and Shiite community in Afghanistan. Fifteen years ago, he was martyred by Taliban and terrorists that were working to serve the interests of other countries. On Friday, March 12, 2010, tens of thousands of people gathered in west of Kabul to commemorate his fifteenth anniversary, which was participated by vice-presidents, Qasim Fahim and Mohammad Karim Khalili, the leader of People’s Unity Party of Afghanistan, Haji Mohammad Mohaqiq, former presidential candidate, Dr. Abdullah Abdullah, cabinet members and members of two houses of national assembly.

The speakers and participants recommitted themselves to Shahid Mazari’s inspirational and noble ideals of “social justice”, “national unity”, “non-discrimination” and “equality and brotherhood among Afghan people”. Haji Mohammad Mohaqiq, the leader of People’s Unity Party of Afghanistan, said that Shahid Mazari introduced “new concepts” in Afghanistan’s political literature. Shahid Mazari is now called the “Martyr of national unity” or “harbinger and architect of social justice” as, when Afghanistan was going through internal conflicts, which stemmed from monopolization of power and political rights by some Jihadi groups, he vigorously voiced that social justice, fair participation of all ethnics of Afghanistan in political process and national unity are the solution to the problem facing the country.

With regards to national unity, Shahid Mazari forcefully said, “we hold national unity in Afghanistan as a principle.” Shahid Mazari posited citizen rights in the country, advancing the idea that all people of Afghanistan should equally enjoy their citizen rights. In 1990s, Shahid Mazari was of great architects and advocates of democratic system in Afghanistan. In this respect, Mazari clearly said, “we see elections the only solution to the problem of Afghanistan… we believe that elections should be completely free so that all Afghan people could participate in it. We reject exclusiveness in its all forms and fashions, and are in favor of participation of all Afghans, including woman, man, old and young…to determine their political destiny.

It is not fair that men be entitled to participate in elections and women be deprived of their suffrage or their rights to vote in elections.” Shahid Mazari initiated a new discourse in political arena of Afghanistan to change the long-standing power relations in Afghanistan that had been based on exclusiveness, monopoly and despotism.

Mazari denounced the atrocities and injustices done on disadvantaged ethnics throughout the history of Afghanistan and believed that there should not be sense of superiority or inferiority any longer. In order to establish permanent peace, it is important to denounce the past injustices and ensure fair participation of all Afghan people, regardless of ethnicity, race, gender, religion and language.