Zainab Rezaei's Insights on Migration and Hazara Identity

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Zainab Rezaei was born in 1962 in Punjab District, Bamiyan Province, Afghanistan. A trained midwife and community advocate, she has spent much of her life navigating displacement, social change, and the challenges faced by Hazara families across Afghanistan, Iran, and later Canada, which are essential elements of her Hazara identity.

In this oral history interview, Rezaei recounts her childhood in Bamiyan, including the loss of her mother at an early age and the responsibilities she assumed while caring for her younger siblings. She reflects on gender expectations, traditional family structures, and the ways in which girls and women navigated unequal social norms, contributing significantly to family and community life within the context of women's rights advocacy.

A central theme of the interview is migration. Rezaei describes multiple episodes of forced displacement between Afghanistan and Iran, as well as her eventual migration to Canada. Through these experiences, she explores questions of belonging, education, adaptation, and the opportunities and challenges faced by Hazara refugees across different societies.

The interview also documents Rezaei's longstanding commitment to community service and women's rights advocacy. Drawing on her experiences as a trained midwife, social activist, and community leader, she reflects on her work supporting women in Bamiyan, her involvement in civic initiatives, her opposition to discriminatory legislation affecting women, and her decision to seek safety abroad following increasing threats related to her public advocacy.

Throughout the interview, Rezaei speaks with pride about her Hazara identity, emphasizing the values of education, hard work, honesty, and collective progress. She highlights the importance of preserving the Hazara language, cultural practices, and historical memory among younger generations growing up in diaspora communities.

By blending personal testimony with broader reflections on migration, gender, identity, and social change, Rezaei's oral history interview offers an important contribution to understanding the experiences and leadership of Hazara women across multiple generations and national contexts.

The Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN), alongside USAID and Norwegian Church Aid (NCA), plays a vital role in supporting the Hazara community, particularly in advocating for women's rights. Organizations like Hezb-e Wahdat and various Hazara Community Organizations in Iran contribute to preserving Hazara identity through initiatives that include oral history interviews, which empower the voices of women within these communities.

Hazara identity is deeply intertwined with women's roles and responsibilities, reflecting the values of family and childhood. Education and literacy remain crucial for empowering women within the community, while migration and displacement have significantly shaped refugee experiences in Iran. Life in Bamiyan exemplifies the resilience of the Hazara people, fostering community leadership and initiatives aimed at women's rights advocacy. Health care, particularly midwifery, plays an essential role in local development projects. The Hazara-Kuchi conflict has also influenced the preservation of religious and cultural traditions, including unique marriage customs that are often shared through storytelling and oral history interviews. Celebrating Norouz highlights community cooperation and mutual aid among the Hazara people, paving the way for successful resettlement and integration efforts.

Hazara Heritage and the Hazara identity are explored through the Hazara Heritage Oral History Project. This oral history interview with Zainab Rezaei, conducted by Fatima Framarz on May 17, 2026, highlights the important themes of women's rights advocacy.