The religious identity of the Hazaras of Afghanistan and modern day Pakistan

Creasy, Jennifer Ruth (2009) The religious identity of the Hazaras of Afghanistan and modern day Pakistan. MTh(R) thesis, University of Glasgow.

Abstract

‘The religious identity of the Hazaras of Afghanistan and modern day Pakistan’ investigates how the Afghani Hazara tribe came into existence, adopted a branch of Islam that differed from the majority of Afghanis and the consequences of that religious adherence. Through the discussion of a history of religious and ethnic persecution in Afghanistan I show how the Hazaras have developed a strong unified sense of identity rooted in their shared ethnicity and religion. Their sense of identity is found and developed as they recognise their difference to others around them, namely the Sunni Pushtons. Their religious and ethnic unity is demonstrated in the way that migrant Hazaras in Pakistan use physical space for their religious expression. Through the sacralising of scared spaces the Hazaras demonstrate that their presence is legitimate in this foreign land as a minority ethnic and religious group.

• Item Type: Thesis (MTh(R))
• Qualification Level: Masters
• Keywords: Hazaras, Religious Identity, Pakistan, Shi'i Islam, Afghanistan
• Subjects: H Social Sciences > HT Communities. Classes. Races; B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BP Islam. Bahaism. Theosophy, etc
• Colleges/Schools: College of Arts & Humanities > School of Critical Studies > Theology and Religious Studies
• Supervisor's Name: Ridgeon, Dr. Lloyd
• Date of Award: 2009
• Depositing User: Miss Jennifer Ruth Creasy
• Unique ID: glathesis:2009-1277
• Copyright: Copyright of this thesis is held by the author.
• Date Deposited: 11 Dec 2009
• Last Modified: 10 Dec 2012 13:37
• URI: https://theses.gla.ac.uk/id/eprint/1277