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An Afghan student has warned of more violent clashes between groups in Kent if historic disputes are not put to rest.
Speaking anonymously to Archant KOS Media, the university student – who admitted fearing reprisals from the close-knit Afghan community for opening up about the ongoing problems – said age-old disputes between Afghanistan’s different ethnicities was a root cause of violence.
It follows the fatal stabbing of Osman Shazad during a mass brawl between two groups of Afghan teenagers in Folkestone, where five others were also injured, two of them seriously.
The incident, which happed in Marine Terrace on January 24, left the local community fearing for their safety.
But the student who agreed to talk to this newspaper about ethnic tensions said although fights between Afghans were common, it was rare that British citizens were involved.
"There is a divide between the different Afghan ethnicities. In Britain you have England, Scotland and Wales; people from England call themselves Englishmen and in Scotland Scotsmen – it’s the same in Afghanistan with the different areas," he said.
"People see Afghans as one people, but there are different types, for example Tajiks.
"But in Afghanistan there are historical problems between the ethnicities and this is passed through the generations by parents to their children.
"They are brought up being told by their parents that other Afghan ethnicities are bad and they become narrow-minded.
"The solution to this is education – they are not being educated neutrally. What has happened in the past has happened – it’s time to move forward."
The 24-year-old, who came to the UK aged seven, disputed claims that the violent clash in Folkestone was between two Afghan tribes from the Pashtun group.
Pashtuns are divided into four tribal alliances which have their own code of conduct, but are treated as one ethnicity.
"There are only tribes in the Pashtuns; I believe this fight was more to do with ethnic divides, not tribal issues, perhaps to do with defending a family member."
Asked why such violence was used in the brawl, he said: "Afghans are very nice people, but they are violent.
"Afghans are mentally different – if they see something that is not right they would do anything to try and make it better.
"In Afghanistan people do stab each other. What is seen as extreme in the UK is not seen as extreme by Afghans.
"It’s a real shame with what happened in Folkestone, but this does happen between the groups.
"The solution is education and for parents to stop bringing their children up to be narrow-minded."
The student said there would be more clashes between Afghan groups in the UK until changes are made.
"It always happens– Afghans think so differently. They want to say things to hurt each other."
Focusing on British troops in Afghanistan, the student said the work of the forces was helping but he admitted it was Afghans that needed to help themselves.
"The troops will leave Afghanistan at some point so it’s up to Afghan people to think of the next generation," he said.
Charity groups in the county, such as Kent Refugee Action Network, help unaccompanied young asylum seekers adjust to life in the UK.
Kate Adams, a volunteer caseworker with Kent Refugee Help which helps older detainees in Dover Immigration Removal Centre, worked in the past as a mentor for young immigrants.
"Some of our clients now did come as minors and drifted into trouble after their asylum claim was refused and they became destitute, developed problems with addictions to various substances to deal with emotional pain," she said.
"They are an extremely vulnerable group. I have worked in the past as a volunteer mentor and found the young people to be highly intelligent and motivated with their studies.
"Unfortunately we as a host country often reject them when they reach 18 and they face removal to countries with unstable regimes where their parents have died or disappeared and where they continue to be at risk. A prime example is Afghanistan."
A public meeting was held last Saturday in Folkestone to discuss the recent tragedy and reassure residents that the harbour area was a safe place to live.
Folkestone and Hythe MP Damian Collins said: "We were all rightly shocked by this terrible incident, but now this is the chance to find out what we can do together to improve the area and highlight what good work is being done.
"By addressing the issues upfront we can start planning towards a safer and brighter future for the Harbour ward."
Nine people were questioned in connection with the fatal stabbing.
Four days after the brawl Fazulmaq Walizada, 18, of Folkestone, and a boy aged 17, from Ashford who cannot be named, were charged with murder and violent disorder.
http://www.kentnews.co.uk/p_12/Artic...on_our_streets
Speaking anonymously to Archant KOS Media, the university student – who admitted fearing reprisals from the close-knit Afghan community for opening up about the ongoing problems – said age-old disputes between Afghanistan’s different ethnicities was a root cause of violence.
It follows the fatal stabbing of Osman Shazad during a mass brawl between two groups of Afghan teenagers in Folkestone, where five others were also injured, two of them seriously.
The incident, which happed in Marine Terrace on January 24, left the local community fearing for their safety.
But the student who agreed to talk to this newspaper about ethnic tensions said although fights between Afghans were common, it was rare that British citizens were involved.
"There is a divide between the different Afghan ethnicities. In Britain you have England, Scotland and Wales; people from England call themselves Englishmen and in Scotland Scotsmen – it’s the same in Afghanistan with the different areas," he said.
"People see Afghans as one people, but there are different types, for example Tajiks.
"But in Afghanistan there are historical problems between the ethnicities and this is passed through the generations by parents to their children.
"They are brought up being told by their parents that other Afghan ethnicities are bad and they become narrow-minded.
"The solution to this is education – they are not being educated neutrally. What has happened in the past has happened – it’s time to move forward."
The 24-year-old, who came to the UK aged seven, disputed claims that the violent clash in Folkestone was between two Afghan tribes from the Pashtun group.
Pashtuns are divided into four tribal alliances which have their own code of conduct, but are treated as one ethnicity.
"There are only tribes in the Pashtuns; I believe this fight was more to do with ethnic divides, not tribal issues, perhaps to do with defending a family member."
Asked why such violence was used in the brawl, he said: "Afghans are very nice people, but they are violent.
"Afghans are mentally different – if they see something that is not right they would do anything to try and make it better.
"In Afghanistan people do stab each other. What is seen as extreme in the UK is not seen as extreme by Afghans.
"It’s a real shame with what happened in Folkestone, but this does happen between the groups.
"The solution is education and for parents to stop bringing their children up to be narrow-minded."
The student said there would be more clashes between Afghan groups in the UK until changes are made.
"It always happens– Afghans think so differently. They want to say things to hurt each other."
Focusing on British troops in Afghanistan, the student said the work of the forces was helping but he admitted it was Afghans that needed to help themselves.
"The troops will leave Afghanistan at some point so it’s up to Afghan people to think of the next generation," he said.
Charity groups in the county, such as Kent Refugee Action Network, help unaccompanied young asylum seekers adjust to life in the UK.
Kate Adams, a volunteer caseworker with Kent Refugee Help which helps older detainees in Dover Immigration Removal Centre, worked in the past as a mentor for young immigrants.
"Some of our clients now did come as minors and drifted into trouble after their asylum claim was refused and they became destitute, developed problems with addictions to various substances to deal with emotional pain," she said.
"They are an extremely vulnerable group. I have worked in the past as a volunteer mentor and found the young people to be highly intelligent and motivated with their studies.
"Unfortunately we as a host country often reject them when they reach 18 and they face removal to countries with unstable regimes where their parents have died or disappeared and where they continue to be at risk. A prime example is Afghanistan."
A public meeting was held last Saturday in Folkestone to discuss the recent tragedy and reassure residents that the harbour area was a safe place to live.
Folkestone and Hythe MP Damian Collins said: "We were all rightly shocked by this terrible incident, but now this is the chance to find out what we can do together to improve the area and highlight what good work is being done.
"By addressing the issues upfront we can start planning towards a safer and brighter future for the Harbour ward."
Nine people were questioned in connection with the fatal stabbing.
Four days after the brawl Fazulmaq Walizada, 18, of Folkestone, and a boy aged 17, from Ashford who cannot be named, were charged with murder and violent disorder.
http://www.kentnews.co.uk/p_12/Artic...on_our_streets
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