“Intolerance and Exclusionary View is the Main Cause of Instability, Discord and Hypocrisy Among Nations”

Recently, the statue of Shahid Mazari in Shahid Mazari Square in west of Kabul was destroyed at night and caused a wave of reactions. One of the most important and prominent reactions in this regard is the collective announcement of Afghan writers, university professors, elders and influential figures, which is being published through Sattagydia Newsletter without interference due to the important content it has. Due to the length of the announcement and to avoid deleting the content, the order of the report has been avoided and the text of the announcement will be republished in its entirety.

A collective declaration of writers, university professors, elders and influential figures, regarding the destruction of the statue of Shahid Mazari and insulting the statue of Ghazi Amanullah Khan.

In the name of Allah

Unfortunately, on the eve of the third anniversary of the domination of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan and at the same time as the beginning of the Muharram decade, suspicious and hypocritical events took place in Afghanistan, which hurt the feelings of millions of people in the country. The destruction of the stone statue of the Shahid Abdul Ali Mazari and his companions in Kabul, the painting and insulting of the statue of Ghazi Amanullah Khan, the independence-seeking and freedom-loving king of Afghanistan in Torkham port, and similar actions with some other figures and symbols in recent years, are literally cause for concern. Worry because, based on human experience, intolerance and exclusionary view has been the main cause of instability, discord, conflict and hypocrisy among nations. As a rule, it was expected that after three years of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan rule, we would witness more tolerance and order; but unfortunately, recent events have shown that such an expectation is not compatible with reality.

Tolerating diversity in society is a sign of that society passing through the era of war and violence. In times when competing groups face each other in the field, the expectation of tolerance and acceptance is less; but when it is claimed that the war and conflict have ended and the national government has been established, the conditions must change completely. The enmities should end, the anger should subside, the flames of revenge should be extinguished, everyone should think about living together, the country should be considered the common home of all, the diversity of social groups; and accordingly, the diversity of their interests, beliefs, feelings and emotions should be recognized.

What human history and lived experience tell us, basically, some differences among human societies cannot be closed. Why? Because humans have interests and these interests sometimes conflict. Man has a will and these wills sometimes stand in front of each other. Man has ideology, belief, emotions and feelings. These beliefs and these emotions and feelings are sometimes incompatible. Man has a value view towards some issues and phenomena, and these values ​​are not the same for everyone. For this reason, human history is full of wars and conflicts. These wars and conflicts were either over power and interests, or over beliefs and values.

Along with these wars and conflicts, which have sometimes been very bloody, disastrous and destructive, there have been continuous efforts to capture and control these wars and conflicts. Especially in recent centuries and after the formation of modern nation-states. The solution that united and stable nations have found is the management of differences and conflicts caused by interests, visions, attitudes, values, beliefs, feelings and emotions; Not removing them, or assimilating them, which is basically prohibited and impossible. If we want to eliminate some of the differences that are in human nature, we must also destroy the human race to the point that there is not more than one person left on earth. Because if there are two people, there is a conflict of interest and a conflict of attitude; as mentioned in the story of Abel and Cain. If we look at elimination, the sequence of elimination is endless; because the circle of differences of attitudes is getting smaller and smaller. A group has a difference with another group as long as that group is present in the field of competition; When the opposite group is removed from the competition scene, outgroup differences are transferred to the inter-group and this sequence continues.

The experience of stable countries shows that their unity and stability is respect and acceptance of plurality and difference. The secret of their success is that the representatives of different and possibly conflicting beliefs, ideas and discourses are respected in the society. Historical and national figures respected by the majority of society and symbols, heroes and figures respected by different ethnic, religious, political and social groups are respected; but not necessarily because a character is a hero and beloved by all; and either a symbol or a belief is acceptable to everyone; rather, because all social, political, ethnic and religious groups are part of one nation and since they live together in a common house, they are respected and therefore, their respected personalities, their respected values, their respected symbols and their respected beliefs should also be respected. It is also an important religious and moral principle that “respect to be respected”. It is mutual respect that brings love instead of hate, affection instead of disgust, friendship instead of enmity, and peace and stability instead of war. It is this mutual respect that makes the society progress and develop and makes a single nation out of different ethnic, religious and political groups. Becoming a nation depends only on these respects; but the governments have the most responsibility in this regard.

More than any other nation, people of Afghanistan have tasted the deadly sting of war and conflict. Not only in the distant past; but most of all in the last half century. Overcoming these differences and conflicts can only be achieved by recognizing differences and respecting each other. Therefore, there is no doubt that ideological elimination approaches are harmful to the principle of national unity and destroy the foundations of national trust.

Considering the above points, we earnestly ask the responsible authorities of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan to prevent narrow-minded and exclusionary people and circles and to respect the historical honors, national and jihadi figures, symbols, beliefs and representatives of different nations, classes, ideas and discourses. Otherwise, the hidden grudges and complexes, like a fire under the ashes, threaten our security, stability and national unity.

God bless you

A group of writers, university professors, elders and influential personalities

Kabul – July 06, 2024