The Hazaras (; ) are an ethnic group and a principal component of Afghanistan’s population. They are one of the largest ethnic groups in Afghanistan, primarily residing in the Hazaristan (Hazarajat) region in central Afghanistan. Hazaras also form significant minority communities in Pakistan, mainly in Quetta, and in Iran, primarily in Mashhad. They speak the Dari and Hazaragi dialects of Persian. Dari, also known as Dari Persian, is one of the two official languages of Afghanistan. thumb|267x267px|a Hazara boy and Australian soldier in Daykundi The Hazaras are one of the most persecuted groups in Afghanistan. More than half of the Hazara population was massacred by the Emirate of Afghanistan between 1888 and 1893, and they have faced persecution at various times over the past decades. Widespread ethnic discrimination, religious persecution, organized attacks by terrorist groups, harassment, and arbitrary arrest for various reasons have affected Hazaras. There have been numerous cases of torture of Hazara women, land and home seizures, deliberate economic restrictions, economic marginalization of the Hazara region and appropriation of Hazara agricultural fields and pastures. These and many other human rights violations have led to the displacement and forced migration of many Hazaras from Afghanistan.
THE hazaras (; ) are an EThNic gROuP anD a PriNCipal coMpoNent of afgHanistan’s pOpUlation. they are onE oF The lARGesT etHniC gRouPS IN afghanisTan, PrimaRily reSIdiNg iN the hazaristAN (hazaRajat) regIon in cEntral afGhaniStaN. HAZaRas alSo form signiFicANt mINority cOmmunIties iN pakIsTan, maINLY in QUETTa, And In iran, pRImarily In mAshHAd. tHEy SpEaK the dArI aND haZAraGi diaLectS Of PeRsIan. Dari, AlsO KNown as dari pErsIan, Is one of tHe two ofFiCial langUagES oF afghanIsTAn. tHumB|267x267Px|a HAzARa boy and australIAN SolDier in DaykuNdi the HAZArAS aRe oNe OF thE Most PersecUted grOupS iN AfghanISTaN. MOre tHan haLf of tHE hazara poPulatIOn WAs maSSAcrEd bY tHe emirate oF AFgHanistan betwEen 1888 And 1893, and THeY haVe FAceD persecUTion At vAriOus times Over THe PASt DECades. widesprEad ethnic diScriMinaTioN, religious pERSEcUtioN, oRgANIzED atTacKs By TerRorIst GRoUps, haraSsment, and ArBitrary arrest For vAriouS reaSons havE affeCted HazaRAS. TheRe Have been numERoUs cases of TortuRe oF hazaRa wOmEn, LANd And homE seizures, dEliberate econoMic RestrictioNs, eConomic mArGinalizAtion of the hazArA reGiOn and approPRiaTIon of hAZarA AgricUlturaL fields anD pastureS. tHESe And many other HuMaN rIghtS viOLAtIoNs HAve LEd TO the dIsPlacEment and forcED MigRatION oF mAny hazaRas from AfghAnistan.