Afghan Religious Minorities so that they could be distinguished from Muslims.57 Post-Taliban A number of Hindu-Sikhs returned to Afghanistan following the collapse of the Taliban regime and took active part in rebuilding the country.58 But in recent years, with deteriorating security and the revitalising tempo of Islamic fundamentalism, the prospect of normalcy looks bleak. In July 2018, a suicide bombing in Jalalabad killed at least 19 people, most of them members of the Hindu-Sikh community. The IS-KP claimed responsibility.59 The Hindu-Sikhs still face issues in observing their religious rites, such as the cremation of their dead.60 They are disenchanted with the government—in particular at the local level—for not protecting their basic rights. Hindu-Sikh children cannot even go to public schools because of pervasive abuse by fellow students on religious grounds.61 Continued repression has caused them to plead to the UN office in Kabul to facilitate their mass emigration from Afghanistan. Efforts were even taken to strip them of their right to a seat in the Parliament by removing an article at the electoral law which designates a seat for the Hindu-Sikh religious minority.62 Despite the guarantee of equal rights in the Constitution and a reserved seat in the parliament, the Hindu-Sikhs constantly face discrimination, prejudice, and harassment. They have been the constant target 57 Library of Congress, ‘H. Rept. 107-798—Report on the activity of the committee on financial services for the 107th Congress, 107–798’, accessed November 11, 2019, https://www.congress.gov/congressional-report/107thcongress/house-report/798/1. 58 Hafizullah Emadi, ‘Repression and endurance anathematized Hindu and Sikh women of Afghanistan’, Nationalities Papers: The Journal of Nationalism and Ethnicity, 44, no. 4 (July 2016). 59 ‘Afghanistan Blast: Sikhs among 19 Dead in Jalalabad Suicide Attack’ BBC, July 01, 2018, accessed November 11, 2019, https://www.bbc.com/news/worldasia-44677823. 60 Institute for War and Peace Reporting, Tough Times for Afghan Hindus and Sikhs, 11 July 2013, ARR Issue 459. 61 Hejratullah Ekhtiyar, ‘Afghan Sikhs and Hindus Face Discrimination at School,’ July 28, 2011, accessed November 11, 2019, https://www.refworld.org/ docid/4e37c9eb2.html. 62 Fabrizio Foschini, ‘Afghanistan’s Incomplete New Electoral Law: Changes and controversies’, Afghan Analyst Network, December 16, 2013, accessed February 22, 2020, https://www.afghanistan-analysts.org/a-lost-occasion-hindusand-sikhs-do-not-get-a-reserved-seat-in-parliament. 13