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When Taliban forces took control of Afghanistan this week, Azis,
a Hazara minority, feared for the safety of his relatives still
in the country.
"This situation is very dangerous for us, the Hazaras, because
they don't like us," said the 34-year-old, who coaches futsal, a
version of soccer played indoors with smaller teams.
He and his direct family have for the past seven years been
living in Indonesia in Ciawi, about 70 kms (43.5 miles) from the
capital Jakarta, awaiting relocation to a third country.
Azis, who asked to be referred to by his first name because of
concern for relatives back home, said his uncle's family had
locked themselves inside their house since the sudden fall of
the Western-backed Afghan government.
"They are afraid to leave the house. Now they are looking for
ways to get out of Afghanistan, because my family do not feel
safe there," said Azis.
For decades, the Hazara, an ethnic minority, have been targeted
by militants, including the Taliban and Islamic State, for their
ethnicity and religious beliefs.
Most of the Hazara are Shi'ite Muslims, whom Sunni hardliners
like the Taliban despise. The community has faced persecution
and violence for decades, including recent attacks on a
maternity hospital and a girls' school.
Despite Taliban assurances that they have changed since their
last reign, Azis worries about sports and greater freedoms
enjoyed by Afghan women - which were outlawed under the group's
notorious 1990s era of austere rule.
"I don't know what would be the future of football in
Afghanistan. What is the fate of women and sports? And what
about the women who want to go to school?" he said.
"I hope Afghanistan will become better, but I'm not hopeful."
(Writing by Angie Teo; Editing by Martin Petty and Emelia
Sithole-Matarise)
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