Tim craig washington post biography of michaels

KALASH

The Kalash (Kalasha) is a tiny course group of animists living in Pakistan obstruct the Afghanistan border in the Birir, Bumburet and Rambur valleys off a few the Chitral Valley in the Nor'-west Frontier Province. Purported to be affinity of five of Alexander the Great's warriors, this tribe is famous progress to the their pagan beliefs and hidden costumes. The women wear black robes, dozens of red bead necklaces remarkable cowrie-shell head-dresses that look like fine carpet with paint brushes, feathers lead into flowers sprouting from the head. Justness Kalash are also known for their lewd songs, provocative dances and curvet ways. The Kalash Valleys can aside reached by 40 kilometer mile landrover roads from the Chitral Valley. [Source: "People of Fire and Fervor", Debra Denker, National Geographic, October 1981 ♂]

Reporting from Kalash Valley, Pakistan in 2016, “Tim Craig wrote in the General Post: “ Hidden up in magnanimity mountains near Pakistan’s border with Afghanistan, the Kalash tribe loves homemade winecolored and whiskey, dances for days efficient colorful festivals, and practices a faith that holds that God has hope and messengers who speak through soul. Though the area is called grandeur Kalash Valley, Kalash settlers actually be real in three separate valleys that bring in up an eastern prong of Pakistan’s 1,000-square-mile Chitral Valley. The Kalash creed was once widespread in Central Assemblage, but the 4,200 villagers who physical here in the Chitral Valley consider up the last known Kalash colony in the world The Kalash villages are accessible only by one-lane auto trails, and residents live in wood-and-mud houses that contain few furnishings cast aside for cots. They eat mostly what they can produce, including hundreds cut into pounds of butter each year. [Source: Tim Craig, Washington Post, August 16, 2016]

The Kalash have Caucasian features — sometimes blonde hair and blue sight — which gives some credence do good to their claim they descended from other ranks in Alexander the Great's army. Not far from are only about 4,200 of them and the have remained animists discredit the fact that everyone around them is Muslim. The tribes around grandeur Kalash call the area where significance Kalash live Kafirstan — the "Land of Unbelievers." They were originally christened Kafirs by the Emir of Kabul. After he ordered their extermination symbolize being pagans, they fled to far-flung valleys to escape persecution. [Source: "Vanishing Tribes" by Alain Cheneviére, Doubleday captivated Co, Garden City, New York, 1987]

According to the Worldmark Encyclopedia of Godfearing Practices: The Kalash are culturally contingent with the people of Nuristan, who live across the border in Afghanistan. The Afghan ruler Amir Abdul Rahman Khan forcibly converted the Nuristani look after Islam during the nineteenth century, however the Kalash have maintained a legerdemain religion and have retained their darken ethnolinguistic identity. Despite their relative quarantine, they have not escaped the take of the Islamists and have anachronistic under continual cultural pressure to exchange to Islam. [Source: Worldmark Encyclopedia locate Religious Practices, Thomson Gale, 2006]

Kalash House in the Chitral Valley

The Kalash keep body and soul toge in the shadows of mountains at hand Chitral, a tourist town in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province. New roads built to greatness Kalash area have brought tourists streak timber exploitation neither of which have all the hallmarks to have benefitted the Kalash rove much. The Kalash are in liable to be of extinction. An effort is existence made to get their land full away by outsiders restored to them. Many Kalash are cut off distance from the outside world by snow-covered passes for five to seven months out year. They are often spotted livestock Chitral, where many of them put up for sale fabric they weave to earn strapped for cash. The tribe is being threatened predominantly as a result of as Kalash women get married to Muslim men.

The Chitral Valley is located between say publicly Karakoram Range and the Hindu Kush near the Afghanistan border. While accumulate much the region along the Coat is unsafe for travel quite elegant few tourists visit the Chitral Depression which is towered over by 7,878-meter (25,550-foot) -high Trichmir, the highest top in the Hindu Kush. The meridional part of the Chitral Valley review more heavily forested than the north.

The Chitral Valley lies near an cap Hindu Kush pass and is substandard on an invasion route used by virtue of Alexander the Great, Genghis Khan paramount others. Ruined forts here and anent are a reminder of this best. The valley has rich alluvial mark is especially beautiful in the fail when birch and willow erupt select by ballot blaze of yellow and orange. Class large open fields of Shandur Hold up between Gilgit and Chitral is neighbourhood Roof of the World Polo matches are played in July. There ding-dong scores of lovely places for when the area is safe.

The Chitral Valley is 322 kilometers (200 miles) long and features rugged mountains, treat springs, rivers teeming with trout, orchard-dotted slopes, friendly people and enchanting period festivals. Alexander the Great and cap army of 70,000 men march brush against Chitral on their way to Bharat in 323 B.C. Chitral District quite good bounded on the north, south gleam the west by Afghanistan and assessment separated from the Tajikistan by dinky narrow strip of Wakhan, a country of Afghanistan and, from China harsh Gilgit Baltistan. It lies between liberty 35 51 N and longitude 71 47’E.. It is easily accessible indifference air from historic city of City. [Source: Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation. ]

Chitral is one of the most lone places in the world. When coldness snows stop flights and close blue blood the gentry passes the valley is completely secure of from the outside world. Villages have changed little since the date of Alexander. It is not meagre to see people with blue pleased and blonde hair. Water is fated through channels that not only flood crops but also turn water designer that thresh and grind grain. Hold down the south are Pathan tribal areas. During the Afghanistan War Chitral immediate area became flooded with Aghan refugees contemporary became a smuggling center and booming town. . The town of Chitral is reached via a hair-raising commonplace from Gilgit with some steep drops to rivers, sometime hundreds of meters below. It takes about two life to traverse this route. .

Chitral Region covers an area of 14504 rightangled meters (5,600 square miles) and publicity at elevations ranging from 1278-7700 meters (3700-25264 feet).. Summers are generally lovely but the winters are extremely brumal. Chitral has unpredictable weather during stretch with frequent rains and snowfall. Diminish is pleasant with mild temperatures.. Criterion time for visiting Chitral is exaggerate June to September.

The Population of rendering Chitral Valley is around 160,000 generate. Majority of the people are Muslims. The only non-Muslim ethnic minority put into operation the Chitral valley are the Kalash. Numbering about 2,500 to 3,000 they inhabit Birir, Bumburet and Rambur valleys in the south of Chitral. Their life style is characterized by their own ancient and religion.. The close by dialect is ‘Khowar’ (Chitrali). Urdu pump up understood by a large number an assortment of people while Pushto is spoken existing understood in Chitral and Drosh.. Birth women wear ‘shalwar-kameez’ (long shirts live baggy trousers) and ‘dupattas’ (flimsy scarves draped round the Shoulders).. In wintertime the man wear ‘shuqa’, loose ,long woolen gowns with long sleeves. Leadership popular headdress is ‘pakol’ which shambles also of woolen material..

Kalash: Descendants freedom Alexander the Great?

The Kalash are vocal to claim descent from Dionysus, primacy Greek god of wine and here is a a story of Conqueror the Great enjoying 's bacchanal smash mountain dwellers in the Hindu Kush. The mountain dwellers of Alexander position Great’s time "were likely the forbears of the Kalash, who still reverence a pantheon of gods, make alcohol, practice animal sacrifice — and hold out against conversion to Islam."

Paul Raffaele wrote uphold Smithsonian magazine: “In contrast to domineering Pakistanis, who tend to be diabolical, most Kalash men and women be endowed with pale skin; many are blond additional some are redheaded. They have hooked noses and blue or gray sight, the women outlining them with smoky powder from the ground-up horns worldly goats. "Wherever Alexander passed, he heraldry sinister soldiers to marry local women discipline establish outposts of his empire," Siraj tells me. [Source: Paul Raffaele, Smithsonian magazine, January 2007]

“That contention, oft numerous in these parts, has recently gotten scientific support. Pakistani geneticist Qasim Mehdi, working with researchers at the University University School of Medicine, has make ineffective that Kalash blood, unlike that senior other Pakistani peoples, shares DNA markers with that of Germans and Italians. The finding tends to support tumble from Alexander's troops, Mehdi said, thanks to the general welcomed troops from fear parts of Europe into his army.”

Although Alexander’s armies passed through the Chitral region there is little evidence delay they reached the remote valleys whither the Kalash live today. The tradition linking the Kalash to Alexander blue blood the gentry Great seem to have been more often than not attached to them by outsiders. Scholars and villagers say that neither nobleness tribe’s written history nor its blunt traditions, including song and poetry, make mention of reference to Alexander.

Kalash History

Paul Raffaele wrote in Smithsonian magazine: “In the Decennium, some 50,000 Kalash were spread crossed the frontier in a secluded residents called Kafiristan (the name comes cheat kaffir, the Urdu and Arabic chat for "unbeliever"). Westerners may remember volatility as the setting for Kipling's Character Man Who Would Be King, which was made into a 1975 take starring Sean Connery and Michael Caine. In 1893, the Afghani sultan Abdur Rahman invaded the land and renamed it Nuristan, or "Land of authority Enlightened." He offered the Kalash well-ordered choice — forsake their many upper circle and convert to Islam, or give in by the sword. Most converted very last assimilated into Muslim villages. But party all."There are just 3,000 left, blue blood the gentry only pagans in a sea make out Muslims from Turkey to Kashmir," says Siraj, who adds that his family include a holy man who joined a Kalash princess six centuries repudiate. [Source: Paul Raffaele, Smithsonian magazine, Jan 2007]

As outsiders and Muslim moved get entangled what is now northern Pakistan present-day Afghanistan the Kalash descended down birth status scale. Until Pakistan independence class Kalash were virtual slaves of prestige rulers of the semi-autonomous Muslim speak of Chitral, and were subjected forbear forced labor. Laws required Kalash who visited the town to wear hats and beads or feathers to contradistinguish them from Muslims. [Source: Debra Denker, National Geographic, October 1981 ♂]

During honesty 1950s several Kalash villages were with might and main converted to Islam because of interpretation purported “immorality” of their women. At hand have been periodic disputes between ethics Kalash and local Muslim people. Muslims have encroached in the valleys wander traditionally belonging to the Kalash. Hither have been many property disputes dishonest the dockets of the Pakistani courts related to the Kalash. Most confront the hotels in the area safekeeping owned by Muslims.♂

By the 1990s marketing between the Kalash and their Muhammadan neighbors was somewhat improved through say publicly building of schools in some valleys, which Kalash children could attend. Satisfy the late 1970s some roads were built into the area. As well-ordered result there has been an expand in tourism and timber exploitation, which benefitted local Muslim more than put on show did the Kalash. [Source: Paul Hockings,“Encyclopedia of World Cultures Volume 3: Southmost Asia,” edited by Paul Hockings, 1992]

Kalash Religion

The Kalash have their own creed which some describe as animist tendency shamanist but is related to Hindooism and appears to have roots take away early Vedic religion. The Kalash allow every aspect of their lives survey ruled by their gods, which editorial one Creator God and several ancillary gods. . The will of greatness gods is transmitted through a prophet-priest who goes into trances. Complex sets of codes, taboos and ancient toll, underlined by a concept of bare and impure, are antagonistic but gratuitous. Some of the Kalash gods encompass Dezeao, the all-powerful creator god; Jestak, goddess of home and family; service Mahandeo, god of the honeybees. [Source: Debra Denker, National Geographic, October 1981]

Tim Craig wrote in the Washington Post: “The Kalash believe in one creator with several messengers. To communicate industrial action them, the tribe erects altars site worshipers offer sacrifices, usually goats. Tedious scholars say the Kalash religion originated during Alexander the Great’s conquest deduction South Asia around 300 B.C. Influence Kalash religion at one time flourished in the Hindu Kush region. [Source: Tim Craig, Washington Post, August 16, 2016]

In a vision similar to ethics one experienced by Moses the Kalash prophet, Naga Dehar, was told shy a great god to lead government people to Bashgal. After the sibyl lead his people to the employed land three gods appeared to statute over the valleys inhabited by birth Kalash. Two of them wanted tell off rule the first valley and Kamarupan Dehar told them the one make certain cold dig a canal from greatness mountaintop to the valley the fastest wins. This contest ended in a- dispute and another contest was absent by the god Balumain who was tricked by the winner. In regular fit of anger he declared purify would only visit the valley in times gone by a year The winner, Mahendeo, showed that he was willing to trouble for the third valley by upsetting a branch into a tree skull a pebble into a bolder. ♂

Animal sacrifices are key events in hang around Kalash ceremonies. Goats are sacrificed hold down gods and ancestors as a camouflage of protection again the pollution go together with females and demonic possession. Every checker is expected to make at small one sacrifice a year. Women sheer strictly separated from the sacrificial activities. They can not attend sacrifices, decode the meat from the animals, same male goats, approach the sanctuaries refer to God, milk cows or even mistrust in a barn where cows act kept and approach a pasture swivel the animals graze. Women can fret eat honey because it believed drift honey is only made by 1 bees. ♂

"Bow shakers" are Kalash hazard tellers. The bow is made show a twig strung with goat hardened yarn. The bow shaker pulls prototypical the yarn and when the comply starts to swing the fortune abridge revealed. An important rite of traverse ritual is becoming a "blood brother" or "blood sister." To achieve that a ceremony is held in which two goat kidneys are roasted take up then cut in half and merged by the two people who have in mind to become related. ♂

Kalash Holidays snowball Festivals

There are four major Kalash festivals: one on the spring, one efficient mid-July to mark the harvest, edge your way in the autumn to celebrate description walnut and grape harvest, and fastidious New Year festival at Christmas about. During Kalash festivals there is abundance of singing and dancing and gallop offerings are left outside of boxs for evil spirits to "suck high-mindedness taste" from. Many the dances ding-dong performed exclusively by women

Chaumos is their biggest festival. The week before high-mindedness festival, no one is allowed understand make love. This means that everybody will be pure when the frolic begin. During Chaumos men sacrifice 30 or so goats and then dust the blood on their faces. Pinpoint this men and women hurl disdain, and sometimes clods of earth, waste time and forth at each other. Description cite each others inadequacies and transgressions, and the girls gloat over honesty frustration of the boys during their seven days of sexual purity.

Visitors catch napping allowed to sometimes sit in strictness the festivities unless they have common a jeep with a Muslim which has made them impure. If that the case a sacrificed goat gleam some sprinkled blood can usually medicine the situation. [Source: Debra Denker, Genealogical Geographic, October 1981]

Death is regarded unadulterated form of release and the person should be given a proper bare off. When a Kalash dies a-one funerary statue is placed on wreath grave and in front of consummate house. The dead have traditionally antique placed in walnut coffins that place upright above the ground in special graveyards. During festivals food and offering criticize brought to the statues. Descendent over and over again have conversations with the statues similarly if they were still alive. Scam recent years outsiders have desecrated rectitude graveyards. Some tourist have even 1 skulls out of the coffins captain had their photographs taken with them. For their part the Muslims detest the Kalash custom of putting incised effigies in their graveyard. Muslims allow images of people and animals sentinel sacrilegious.

There are ritual dances performed mistakenness harvests, births and deaths. The squadron wear lose blouses and full skirts and headdresses with cowrie shells contemporary coral and silver wrist bracelets.

Kalash Joe public and Women

Kalash men and boys clothes the same kind of hat by the same token their Afghani and Pakistani neighbors. They distinguish themselves from Muslims by however flowers in their hats. Villages plot traditionally had a man’s area steady by the skull of a wedge. This is the place where animals are sacrificed.

Women enjoy more freedoms leave speechless their Muslim counterparts and do note wear the veil. They do governing of the field work and beyond responsible for crops while men varying responsible for animals. Women are initiated after their first menstruation and arrange preoccupied with their appearance and reason of seduction. .

The life of Kalash women is defined by tribal toll regarding purity. During menstruation they drain banished to the “bashali” house circle child births are also performed. Troops body can not even approach this semidetached and Muslim are called in about repairs. Women emerge after five era of menstruating and take a liturgy bath and purify themselves and fillet their hair.. Hair combing is alleged as unclean and women keep their combs by the river. Women cabaret bared from temples and sacred sites. Only a sanctuary whose entrance assay guarded by carvings of goats crumble the village of Brun admits them.

Women willingly embrace their state of intrinsic impurity. Often they eat separately tolerable their impurity doesn’t pass on arranged the food eaten by pure private soldiers. Ironically the female fairies are glory good ones and they inhabit interpretation rocks and trees. The evil man spirits roam around and must give somebody the job of placated with sacrifice.

Marriages have traditionally back number arranged during childhood and involve straight payment fo money from the kindred of the groom to the kinsmen of the bride. The bride likewise receives a dowry from her descent. It is common for an lesion wife to elope and then chaffer a divorce with her husband will a divorce. There are many cases of marriage by elopement involving column who are already married. There conspiracy traditionally been many disputes regarding women.

Kalash Villages and Homes

Kalash live in sea green valleys at the bottom of infertile slopes. Houses are built on interpretation slopes and on top of creep another, with one house’ veranda work out another house’s roof. The house funding built this way so the valleys can be used for agriculture. They houses are constructed of flat stones placed in layers on mortarized logs. Thick columns support a roof feeling of branches, slate and earth. Roofs are used for drying crops.

Kalash protection have ornately carved and ornamented make-up, especially the doors and lintels. Dignity designs are believed to be statement old and are generally curvilinear bit shape. .

The inside of Kalash protection is dark and the floors equalize made of packed earth. Cooking legal action done on an open hearth, going the walls blackened with soot. Magnanimity Kalash sit on low chairs which distinguishes them from Muslims who on the topic of to sit on the ground. [Source: Debra Denker, National Geographic, October 1981]

Kalash Life

The Kalash grow wheat and no great shakes. They make a special bread sell goat cheese and crushed walnuts. Bargain the 1980s, they found it witty that Americans bought their food hold stores. [Source: Debra Denker, National Geographical, October 1981]

The Kalash love to quaff wine and sing. Many of their songs have sexually explicit lyrics. Honesty local Kalash wine is not onerous and the bottles are corked be different corncobs. It is thick and scented and like ancient Greeks, the Kalash drink it diluted with water.

In righteousness 1980s, few Kalash were educated deceive local Muslim schools. Those that were often had to commute 16 kilometers to school and put up be more exciting teachers telling them: "Stand up at an earlier time read the lesson dirty Kalash." Rephrase recent years some schools for Kalash children to attend have been like a cat on a hot tin roof up.

The Kalash dislike cutting trees which they believe are inhabited by hooch or hootch. Since many of their gods sense thought to be invisible the untidy heap often depicted with drawings of simple horse. The horse is the unseen god's mount.

Kalash Clothes

The Kalash women financial assistance known for their ornate costumes put forward headdresses. The wear black robes unravel coarse cotton in summer and handspun wool dyed black in winter. They also wear a picturesque headgear, which weighs between three and four pounds. It is made of woolen inky material encrusted with cowry shells, buttons and crowned with a large black feather..

Men mostly wear shalwar kameez, probity national Pakistani costume. The Kalash general public distinguish themselves from the non-Kalash through wearing Chitral woolen hats to which they add feathers or little conductor bells. Traditional dress, reserved for disclosure, very simple with a hole easy out for the neck. The clothed in long woolen belts and their ass are often of goat-skins, usually simulated directly to the feet and tie with woolen or leather thongs..

As neat sign of growing Kalash poverty numerous Kalash who used to wear quake now go barefoot ot wear rooms. The dresses of the women besides look tattered. Some of the satisfactory ones are for sale in rubbernecker shops.

Kalash Beauty and Adornments

The Kalash cadre are known for their ornate adornment. They wear girdles embroidered with univalve shells and have piles of red-bead necklaces hanging from their neck. Cowry shells were once a form confiscate currency in northern India and unshakable a lot of them was swell sign of wealth.

Kalash women twist their hair into long braids and dress a carpet of cowrie shells careful wool that hangs over the obstruct of the head as if secede were part of their hair. Tassels on the front of the wear are made of everything from fluff to wool scraps. The women section a spooky look when they manipulate burned millet paste on their bias which gives them a raccoon-like cover up. [Source: Debra Denker, National Geographic, Oct 1981]

Kalash women used to wear lashings of necklaces made with coral, necklet of ivory, and fresh and oceanic pearls. But these are not by reason of visible as they once were unacceptable probably were sold off to deceive money. Some are for sale drain liquid from tourist shops. Jewels symbolize the sunbathe, stars and gods. In addition on hand being measure of husband's wealth, cowries are thought to bring happiness careful protection. The best kupas (headdresses) plot fourteen rows of cowries.

Kalash Economic Activity

The Kalash have traditionally raised sheep stand for goats and produced walnuts for marketing and trade. Because of poverty keep from exploitation they have lost much be fitting of their land and the walnut crooked are in the hands of outsiders. To make money they raise chickens and eggs, which they do shriek consume themselves but sell to outsiders and businesses that deal with tourists. [Source: Paul Hockings,“Encyclopedia of World Cultures Volume 3: South Asia,” edited give up Paul Hockings, 1992 |~|]

Agriculture has universally been woman’s work. The growing stint in short. The Kalash grow grain, maize, millet, vegetables, mulberry, apricots, plums, apples and pears. Irrigation water task brought from mountain streams by channels.

Animal herding has traditionally been men’s look at carefully, with the animals being take inherit mountain pastures in the summer other brought to the lower valley double up the winter. Goats are the important herded animal. They are regarded owing to sacred and gifts of the gods.

Kalash and Their Muslim Neighbors

Tim Craig wrote in the Washington Post: “ Twist the centuries, however, armies and staff of competing faiths moved in, forward many Kalash were converted. Others frigid into the mountain passes, largely formerly larboard alone when the area was uncluttered western frontier of British colonial Bharat. Pakistan became a country in 1947, Muslim families began moving into class Kalash Valley, drawn by the brittle climate, undisturbed forests and rich skimming lands. Salamat Khan, who does shriek know his age but estimates expansion to be at least 75, oral that for much of his step, the Kalash and their new neighbors lived in relative harmony. [Source: Tim Craig, Washington Post, August 16, 2016]

“But he and other villagers said rank mood has changed over the anterior decade as a less-tolerant form commandeer Islam began taking hold here. Roving Islamic scholars are increasingly showing instigate in the valley, and after hose down visit, villagers say, their Muslim neighbors appear less tolerant. “They will assert, ‘Why do you people make wine?’ ” recalled Yasir Kalash. “We feigned wine because it’s our culture. Incredulity use wine in our rituals, incredulity use wine to cook, and surprise use wine because, in our attach importance to, wine is purification.” [Source: Tim Craig, Washington Post, August 16, 2016]

“The villagers” have “fretted over whether they needful walls or do-not-enter lists to harbour them from their more-conservative Muslim neighbors — ultimately deciding that the breathtaking heights of the Hindu Kush would protect them. The Kalash tribe legal action so fearful of being overrun ditch its members are considering packing rally their children and goats and embarking on a modern-day pilgrimage in experimentation of a new country. “The subordinate generation think they cannot live nearby anymore,” said Zahim Kalash, 34.

What begets the Kalash community especially frightened quite good a feeling of being “isolated beginning alone,” Yasir Kalash said, chairman heed the Karachi-based Pakistan Minorities Front. Powder said Christians can turn to honesty Vatican or the West for basis, while Hindus can look to Bharat, and Shiite Muslims can seek a selection of protection from Iran. Kalash villagers, oversight added, feel as if no subsequent country cares about them.

Kalash Villages mount Muslim Intruders

Paul Raffaele wrote in Smithsonian magazine: The drive to the lonely valleys where the Kalash live choice take just a few bone-rattling An hour out of Chitral miracle cross a suspension bridge over spick surging river and ascend a hit the highest point track more suited to goats. Uncontrolled try not to look down importance our jeep inches up steep gorges strewn with boulders. [Source: Paul Raffaele, Smithsonian magazine, January 2007]

“The Kalash hamlet of Bumboret is almost hidden carry a cleave cut by a polar river between two steep mountains wizened with dense cedar stands. Eight period ago, there were few Muslims run here, but Siraj says that Saudi-funded Pakistani Muslim missionaries have been stirring in. We drive for more by half an hour through Muslim villages before we reach the first Kalash settlement. One of the most perceivable distinctions between the two peoples problem that Kalash women go unveiled. Their clothing, worn from infancy to tactic age, is a homespun black comic and headdress that falls down rank back like a horse's mane skull is festooned with cowrie shells, pearls and bells. Women and young girls sport facial tattoos of circles ground starbursts. As I get out time off the jeep, I greet some villagers with "Ishpadta," or "Hello" — however most stare silently at me be a symbol of turn away. Perhaps they feel roam no good can come from train with the outside world.

“An hour's group deeper into the mountains we relax to the village of Rumbur, whither I check in with another get down from my previous visit, the Kalash leader Saifulla January His eyes unintelligent when I express surprise at impress so many Muslims at Bumboret. "I've been fighting in the courts disturb get back our land from primacy Muslims for 13 years now, on the other hand the case still goes on," be active says. Why does it take consequently long? He shrugs. "Pakistani justice moves slowly. I go to court flawlessly a month, but somehow the situation never gets resolved." Despite Muslim incursions, Saifulla says, the Kalash are contumaciously keeping their culture intact through expert simple sanction: "If any Kalash converts to Islam, they can't live in the midst us anymore. We keep our model strong." The Kalash will need their strength. The region's Muslim tribes be blessed with a centuries-long history of enthusiasm hold feuding — especially the Ulmulk kinglike family, entrenched in their capital delay leaving at Chitral.

Hostilities and Clashes Between Kalash and Muslims

Tim Craig wrote in distinction Washington Post: “Now villagers say their Kalash culture and religion are near extinction by forced conversions, robberies and assaults. “We are scared,” said Yasir Kalash, the manager of a hotel give back Pakistan’s northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. “They capture our lands, our pastures become peaceful our forests, and sometimes take escort goats and women. . We tally afraid in the next few age we will be finished.” [Source: Tim Craig, Washington Post, August 16, 2016]

In July 2016, two Kalash goatherds were killed in a mountain pasture, character latest in a series of attacks on the tribe. And heated theory are erupting over practices as approachable as using the local spring drinkingwater. According to our traditions, we think about all the springs to be holy,” said Imran Kabir, who lives urgency the valley and acts as insinuation unofficial spokesman for the tribe. “We don’t allow anyone to wash clothing or take baths in the springs.” Last month, several of their Moslem neighbors started doing just that — bathing and washing clothes in probity cool, emerald waters that flow foreign the nearby heights. “We said, ‘Please don’t do that. People drink spread those springs,’” Kabir said. “They articulated, ‘You people are stupid.’” And expand a scuffle broke out.

Kalash villagers as well are fearful of violent attacks, together with raids by Taliban militants. Zabir Aristocratic, 26, a Kalash villager, said stray in 2014, Taliban militants from Afghanistan sneaked into Bumberet, the unofficial assets of the valley, and stabbed well-organized 15-year-old boy to death. “I axiom 25 Taliban, from a distance, bordering the guy and killing him,” Absolute said. “There can be no root for them to kill him excluding that he was a non-Muslim.”

Villagers asseverate the killing of two Kalash goatherds underscores the threats to the tribe’s way of life. “If we cannot take our goats high up discern the pasture, then our culture cannot survive,” said one Kalash villager, who spoke on the condition of obliviousness because he feared for his perpetuation. “The goats are part of [our] religion, and we sacrifice our beasts, and down in the valley nearby is not enough grazing land.” Kalash men use goat blood in spiritualminded cleansing rituals.

Not everyone believes tensions stature rising between the Kalash and their neighbors. Qimat Shah, 24, a provincial Muslim man who spends his give to making flatbread in a wood-fired oven, noted that young Muslim and Kalash villagers go to school together. Put your feet up said that whatever problems exist check from a lack of education middle village elders. “We are people carry too far both religions living together,” Shah said.

Conversion of 15-Year-Old Kalash Girl to Monotheism Causes Riot

In June 2016, a two-day riot erupted in Kalash Valley later Kalash villagers said a 15-year-old kid was tricked into converting to Mohammedanism. Tim Craig wrote in the President Post: “According to police and go into liquidation officials, a 15-year-old girl named Rina wandered away from home and blown up up at a local Islamic inculcate. After a few hours, the reverend declared that Rina had converted with respect to Islam. She later returned to supreme village, saying she had not unplanned to convert. But angry Muslim villagers began pelting Kalash villagers with bricks and stones, arguing that a difference to Islam cannot be undone. Top-notch judge agreed, effectively severing ties betwixt the girl and her parents.“The changeover rate is very high, and surprise are afraid if this goes stir, our culture will be finished in jail the next few years,” Yasir Kalash said. [Source: Tim Craig, Washington Display, August 16, 2016]

“According to police cranium local officials, Rina showed up distrust the seminary and said she welcome to convert to Islam. The neighbourhood cleric embraced her and started portrayal her the Quran. After a clampdown hours, the cleric declared that Rina had converted to Islam, which entails reciting a pledge that there decline “no God but Allah. The clairvoyant Muhammad is the messenger of Allah.” The next morning, according to the law, Rina’s parents and other members depose the Kalash tribe went looking let slip her. They found her at say publicly seminary and demanded that she resurface home, noting she is only detailed the ninth grade and too immature to leave her parents. [Source: Tim Craig, Washington Post, June 20, 2016]

“What happened next underscores the combustible part that religion can play in agrestic Pakistan. There often is no harden way for a Muslim person make happen Pakistan to abandon Islam. The Muhammedan inhabitants of the area, who transformation a majority of the population, avowed that Rina converted voluntarily. They refused to hand her over to come together parents, saying Rina was now innermost should forever be considered a Mohammedan. A fight broke out. As stones and punches were thrown, the battle quickly escalated into a bloody conflict involving hundreds of villagers. At way of being point, the violence became so clear that police began firing bullets experience the air to try to part the crowds, the BBC reported. “The Muslims living in the area whispered nobody is allowed to go stand behind to his or her old 1 after embracing Islam,” said Asif Iqbal, the local police chief. “According pass away the Muslim faith, if someone tries to apostate, he or she could be killed.”

Rina’s case demonstrates how produce is often violent mobs — sob the courts — that get honesty first crack at judging someone’s error or innocence after allegations of absconding. Kamal Uddin, a Kalash tribesman, blunt in an interview last week desert Rina “isn’t that mature to power such a big decision on added own. She is now willing necessitate go back to her family … but the Muslim community doesn’t task her and is demanding she support with them." “We have been rations and enjoying our religious affairs back in Kalash for the past 2,000 years,” Uddin added. “Both the Kalash and Muslim communities of Chitral secondhand goods peaceful, but it seems some spiritual people provoked the Muslims not pan let the girl go back practice her family.”

As the fighting dragged roomy, local authorities decided to haul Rina before a judge. During the courtyard appearance, Rina “confessed that she embraced Islam of her own will,” vocal Abdul Mufttah, a police officer. Leadership judge ruled that Rina was sting official convert to Islam, effectively split ties between her and her kindred. Religious diversity among the same kith and kin is rare in Pakistan, especially trudge rural communities. And in a declare with no law against child affection, a wedding between Rina and uncomplicated local Muslim boy or man assay likely to be arranged soon. Interpretation Kalash tribe, meanwhile, says it quite good ready to move on from integrity dispute.“If this was her own selection, then we will just say, ‘May God help her in every shyness of life,’ ” said Shamsher Caravansary, a Kalash tribesman. “Although her parents are grieving ... we are exceptional poor community …we are a bargain peaceful community, and we will haul the decision.”

Image Sources: Wikimedia Commons

Text Sources: New York Times, Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, Lonely Planet Guides, Con of Congress, Pakistan Tourism Development Set (), Official Gateway to the Pronounce of Pakistan (), The Guardian, State-run Geographic, Smithsonian magazine, The New Yorker, Time, Reuters, Associated Press, AFP, Wikipedia and various books, websites and strike publications.

Last updated February 2022