Who we are
a rich ancient culture
Once the largest ethnic group in Afghanistan, our Hazara culture has been threatened by unrest in our homeland, forcing us to find a safer place to live. We now call Utah home.
Our Organization
Utah Hazara Association
Our non-profit organization was established to help us preserve our culture and develop our community in Utah.
what we do
Resettling Refugees
We work tirelessly to fulfill our mission of helping refugees and immigrants by providing assistance with school, employment, and finding a place within the community.
Who Are the Hazaras?
We are a Persian-speaking ethnic group hailing from central Afghanistan, specifically from the Hazarajat region. Our people have called Hazarajat home since the 13th century.
3 things that distinguish Hazaras from other Afghans:
- We belong to the Turkic-Mongol tribe, hence our Asiaric facial features.
- We speak a Persian dialect called Dari.
- We follow the Shi’a school of Islam which made us the minority in Afghanistan, where most practice Sunni Islam.
We were once the largest ethnic group in Afghanistan! We constituted around 65% of the entire population before the 19th century… then things changed.
History of Persecution
Since the early 19th century, we have been persecuted for our unique religion. Nearly half of our people have been killed during this time. Nowhere in Afghanistan is safe, and almost anywhere we go our people are identified as Hazaras and killed. Unfortunately, due to these circumstances, we knew we needed to leave the place we once loved so much.
Journey to Utah
We searched for places that would remind us of our home in Afghanistan, and we found Utah. The climate, mountains, and seasons are very similar to our old home. Slowly but surely, many Hazaras have migrated from Afghanistan to Utah to find a new sanctuary.
Where We Are Now
We have been your friends and neighbors since the early 2000s and hope to continue a friendly relationship within the Utah community. The Hazara population continues to grow.
We hope to expand our roots and valuably contribute to our Utah neighbors. In order to unite our communities and find our home here, we would like to establish a community center to inform Utahns and educate Hazaras together, but we need your help.