Garmis
Encyclopedia
The Gharmi, or Garmi people , are one of the original groups of Tajiks, originate from the Rasht Valley
in central Tajikistan
. From the 1920s to 1955 there was a Gharm oblast
in Tajikistan, and henceforth people from central Tajikistan were known as Gharmis. During the 1950s many Gharmis were forced to migrate from central Tajikistan to the Vakhsh River Valley
in western Tajikistan. Gharmis were in large excluded from government positions which were dominated by individuals from Khujand
and Kulob
. Gharmis who settled in Qurghonteppa Oblast
are frequently described as a clan
group that found social niches in education and the marketplace. After Tajikistan became independent in 1991, many Gharmis participated in protests against the government. When the Civil War of Tajikistan broke out in 1992 a large number of Gharmis joined the DPT-IRP
opposition. The organization Human Rights Watch
among others, reported that Gharmis were targeted for execution, disappearances, mass killings, and Gharmi villages were burnt. During the fall and winter of 1992 as many as 90,000 Gharmis and Pamiris were expelled from their homes and found refugee in Afghanistan
in a campaign described by the United States Department of State
as a pogrom
. This was followed by heavy fighting in the Rasht Valley between government and opposition forces that led to the destruction of villages. There is evidence that rape
was used by both sides during this campaign.
Rasht Valley
The Rasht Valley is located in Tajikistan and composes a significant portion of the Region of Republican Subordination, including the six districts of Jirgatol, Rasht, Roghun, Tavildara, Tajikobod and Nurabad. Historically the Rasht Valley has been called Karotegin or Karategin...
in central Tajikistan
Tajikistan
Tajikistan , officially the Republic of Tajikistan , is a mountainous landlocked country in Central Asia. Afghanistan borders it to the south, Uzbekistan to the west, Kyrgyzstan to the north, and China to the east....
. From the 1920s to 1955 there was a Gharm oblast
Oblast
Oblast is a type of administrative division in Slavic countries, including some countries of the former Soviet Union. The word "oblast" is a loanword in English, but it is nevertheless often translated as "area", "zone", "province", or "region"...
in Tajikistan, and henceforth people from central Tajikistan were known as Gharmis. During the 1950s many Gharmis were forced to migrate from central Tajikistan to the Vakhsh River Valley
Vakhsh River
The Vakhsh has been intensively developed for human use. Electricity, aluminum, and cotton are the mainstays of Tajikistan’s economy, and the Vakhsh is involved with all three of these sectors. Hydroelectricity provides 91% of the country’s electricity as of 2005, and 90% of that total comes from...
in western Tajikistan. Gharmis were in large excluded from government positions which were dominated by individuals from Khujand
Khujand
Khujand , also transliterated as Khudzhand, , formerly Khodjend or Khodzhent until 1936 and Leninabad until 1991, is the second-largest city of Tajikistan. It is situated on the Syr Darya River at the mouth of the Fergana Valley...
and Kulob
Kulob
Kulob , also Kulab or Kulyab , is a city in Kulob district, Khatlon Province, Tajikistan. Located 203 km south-east of the capital Dushanbe on the Yakhsu River , it is one of the largest cities in the country Kulob , also Kulab or Kulyab , is a city in Kulob district, Khatlon Province, Tajikistan....
. Gharmis who settled in Qurghonteppa Oblast
Qurghonteppa Oblast
Qurghonteppa Oblast was an administrative subdivision in Tajikistan until 1992, when it was merged with Kulob Oblast to create Khatlon Province.-History:...
are frequently described as a clan
Clan
A clan is a group of people united by actual or perceived kinship and descent. Even if lineage details are unknown, clan members may be organized around a founding member or apical ancestor. The kinship-based bonds may be symbolical, whereby the clan shares a "stipulated" common ancestor that is a...
group that found social niches in education and the marketplace. After Tajikistan became independent in 1991, many Gharmis participated in protests against the government. When the Civil War of Tajikistan broke out in 1992 a large number of Gharmis joined the DPT-IRP
Islamic Renaissance Party
There was a number of movements knowns as Islamic Renaissance Party, the best known being the Islamic Renaissance Party of Tajikistan....
opposition. The organization Human Rights Watch
Human Rights Watch
Human Rights Watch is an international non-governmental organization that conducts research and advocacy on human rights. Its headquarters are in New York City and it has offices in Berlin, Beirut, Brussels, Chicago, Geneva, Johannesburg, London, Los Angeles, Moscow, Paris, San Francisco, Tokyo,...
among others, reported that Gharmis were targeted for execution, disappearances, mass killings, and Gharmi villages were burnt. During the fall and winter of 1992 as many as 90,000 Gharmis and Pamiris were expelled from their homes and found refugee in Afghanistan
Afghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
in a campaign described by the United States Department of State
United States Department of State
The United States Department of State , is the United States federal executive department responsible for international relations of the United States, equivalent to the foreign ministries of other countries...
as a pogrom
Pogrom
A pogrom is a form of violent riot, a mob attack directed against a minority group, and characterized by killings and destruction of their homes and properties, businesses, and religious centres...
. This was followed by heavy fighting in the Rasht Valley between government and opposition forces that led to the destruction of villages. There is evidence that rape
Rape
Rape is a type of sexual assault usually involving sexual intercourse, which is initiated by one or more persons against another person without that person's consent. The act may be carried out by physical force, coercion, abuse of authority or with a person who is incapable of valid consent. The...
was used by both sides during this campaign.