Table of Contents
- About the Hazara Culture House
- Executive Board Statement
- Cultural Activities (Dawood Concert)
- Cultural Activities (H C Day Celebration)
- Cultural Activities (Yalda Night Celebration)
- Democratic Engagement (Election Event Helsinki)
- Democratic Engagement (Election Event Tampere)
- Advocacy and Human Rights (Kaaj Commemoration)
- Advocacy and Human Rights (Meeting HR Committee)
- Integration (Engagement with Government and Municipalities)
- Integration (Engagement Civil Society Organizations)
- Networking(Hazara with Hazara Diaspora)
- Recognition(HCH as Association of the Year 2025)
- Administrative and Organizational Development
- Conclusion
Picture from the Kaaj event
The Suomen Hazaroiden Kulttuuriyhdistys ry founded by social, cultural and human rights activist of the Hazara community in Finland. The association was officially registered with the Finnish Patent and Registration Office (PRH) under Y-tunnus:3416109-9 on January 4, 2024.
The Suomen Hazaroiden Kulttuuriyhdistys ry is a cultural association committed to preserving and promoting Hazara heritage and culture in Finland. The organization actively supports the integration and well- being of Hazara immigrants, with a particular emphasis on raising awareness about their circumstances, especially in Afghanistan. Through cultural events, discussions, and celebrations, it provides a platform for the Hazara community to connect, share their stories, and strengthen their identity.
In addition to cultural promotion, the association advocates for human rights and fosters solidarity across multicultural communities. With a deep commitment to cultural exchange, diversity, and the empowerment of marginalized groups, Suomen Hazaroiden Kulttuuriyhdistys ry seeks to enrich Finland’s multicultural fabric and contribute meaningfully to an inclusive society.
In 2025, the Hazara Culture House in Finland strengthened its role as a vibrant, trusted, and impactful organization committed to cultural preservation, civic participation, integration, and human rights advocacy. Over the past year, we successfully implemented our strategic action plan-expanding cultural engagement, enhancing awareness, and fostering democratic meaningful collaboration with Finnish institutions, civil society, and international partners.
Our cultural programs, including high- profile events such as the Dawood Sarkhosh concert, Hazara Culture Day, and Yalda Night celebration, not only preserved and honored Hazara heritage but also built bridges of understanding with broader Finnish society. Through civic participation initiatives and election awareness programs, we encouraged informed engagement and contributed to strengthening democratic inclusion among migrant communities.
The Hazara Culture House also advanced human rights dialogue, bringing attention to the persecution of Hazaras and women Afghanistan and advocating for action at national and international levels. Our delegated participation in key forums further amplified our message and broadened our institutional network.
2025 was marked by notable achievements, including the election of our Director as Deputy Board Member of the Moniheli multicultural network and being recognized as Moniheli’s Association of the Year. These honors reflect our ongoing commitment to cultural diversity, civic inclusion, and humanitarian solidarity.
We extend our deep gratitude to our members, volunteers, partners, and supporters. Together, we look forward to building on this foundation-fostering inclusion, defending human dignity, and contributing to a more equitable and inclusive society in Finland and beyond.
Dawood Sarkhosh Concert-Espoo
Cultural and artistic activities remained a cornerstone of the Hazara Culture House’s mission in 2025. These initiatives served not only to preserve and promote Hazara cultural heritage, but also to introduce this heritage to the wider Finnish public and foster intercultural dialogue.
On January 11, 2025, the Hazara Culture House, in cooperation with Galaxy Entertainment, organized a major concert by the legendary Hazara artist Dawood Sarkhosh at the Tapiola Cultural Center in Espoo. The event attracted a large and diverse audience from Finland and several other European countries, demonstrating the strong cultural ties within the Hazara and Afghanistan diaspora.
A distinctive feature of the concert was Mr. Sarkhosh’s storytelling between performances. Each song was introduced with historical and personal narratives that reflected themes of exile, resistance, love, and collective memory. These narratives deeply resonated with the audience and reinforced the role of music as a carrier of identity and historical consciousness.
The Hazara Culture House formally welcomed the artist upon his arrival in Helsinki. In recognition of his lifelong contribution to culture, art, and music, the association presented him with the book Tisha Ha Wa Risha Ha, which documents the life of Senator Ghulam Hassan Khan. The book was formally presented on stage by Ms. Saara Hyrkkö, a representative of the Finnish Parliament. This symbolic gesture reflected the the organization’s commitment to honoring cultural figures who have preserved Hazara history and values.
Hazara Culture Day Celebration-Järvenpää
The Hazara Culture Day Festival was held on June 14, 2025, at Järvenpää-Talo Hall. The event brought together members of the Hazara and Afghanistan communities, representatives of Finnish civil society, human rights activists, migrant rights organizations, and local authorities. The program opened with remarks by Ms. Shekeba Ahmadi, Deputy Director of the Hazara Culture House, who emphasized the importance of cultural continuity, historical awareness, and unity among migrant generations. Speeches by Ms. Inka Hopsu, Member of the Finnish Parliament, Ms. Sanna Valtonen, human rights activist, and Tiia Lintula member of Jarvenpää City Council, underlined the value of cultural diversity, minority rights, and mutual understanding between migrant communities and the host society.
During the festival, the Hazara Culture House extended special appreciation to individuals who have made outstanding contributions to migrant support, cultural preservation, and solidarity with the Hazara community. Certificates of appreciation were presented to Ms. Inka Hopsu, Member of the Finnish Parliament, for her continued support of migrants-particularly the Hazara community-and for personally hosting three Hazara youths in her home; Ms. Leena Kaartinen, for her long-standing engagement and work in the Hazarajat region; and Ms. Kirsti Hamströmi, for her dedicated support of migrants and the Hazara community in Finland. The festival also honored Mr. Nasrullah Paik, a distinguished filmmaker and photographer of Afghanistan, known for documenting resistance and preserving historical narratives, who received a certificate of appreciation for his contributions. The event concluded with a live performance by the renowned Hazara singer Hamid Sakhizada and his team, creating a strong sense of shared memory and belonging.
Yalda Night Celebration
On December 20, 2025, the Hazara Culture House with support of Helsinki Municipality and Moniheli organized a large Yalda Night celebration at Kalliolan Setlementti ry in Helsinki. The event brought together community members, artists, researchers, students, and representatives of Finnish society. The program highlighted the historical and symbolic meaning of Yalda Night as a celebration of light, resilience, and hope.
The evening featured poetry recitations, traditional music performances, Hafez fortune- telling, and cultural reflections on civic participation and social responsibility. In addition, outstanding Hazara athletes Besmillah Mardani, Ali Haidari, and Salar Sharifi were recognized for their achievements at Nordic, European, and international levels, reinforcing positive representation and role models within the community.
Civic Participation and Democratic Engagement
Election Awareness Event Helsinki
Strengthening civic awareness and democratic participation among migrant communities was a key priority for the Hazara Culture House in 2025. The association believes that informed and active participation in local decision-making processes is essential for meaningful integration and social cohesion.
With the support of the Moniheli multicultural network, the Hazara Culture House successfully implemented the Moniheli Election Project. Large public awareness events were organized in Helsinki and Tampere, focusing on regional and municipal elections in Finland.
The Helsinki event which was held on 30 March 2025 brought together representatives of major Finnish political parties, including Ms. Veronika Honkasalo (Left Alliance), Ms. Jenni Pajunen (National Coalition Party), Ms. Reetta Vanhanen (Green League), Mr. Tanveer Choudhry (Social Democratic Party), Ms. Eeva Kärkkäinen (Centre Party), and Ms. Mia Hafrén (Swedish People’s Party of Finland). The discussion was moderated by members of the Hazara Culture House and provided space for direct dialogue between political actors and the community. Presentation on importance of participation in municipal and county elections were presented by Hazara Culture House Director and a package of information in Dari and Finnish Language distributed among the participants.
Afghanistan-origin candidates from different Finnish political parties also participated, including Ms. Nasima Razmyar, Vice-Chair of the Social Democrat Party; Eeva Toskala and Ms. Zahra Hosseini from the Green Party; Zabih Yawari and Zia Momeni from the Social Democrat Party; and Ahmad Hosseini from the Left Alliance. They shared their electoral programs with the public.
In the second part of the program, the New Year celebration continued with music and dambura performance by Ali Zargham
A public awareness event was held in Tampere on March 31, 2025, with the participation of political party representatives Ms. Anna Hertonen (Green League), Mr. Reza Abdali (National Coalition Party), Ms. Nadia Hamidi (Left Alliance), and Mr. Atanas Aleksovski (Social Democrat Party). These discussions encouraged informed debate and contributed to increased political literacy and voter engagement among immigrant communities. The Director of Hazara Culture House presented information on the counties and municipalities elections and encourage the migrant communities for public participation and community engagement.
In the second part of the event there was Eid Festival which was celebrated by music, dances and dambura with famous artist Ali Zargham.
Women and vulnerable groups situatiion under Taliban
Advocacy for human rights, with particular attention to the situation of Hazaras, women, and other vulnerable groups in Afghanistan, remained a central responsibility of the Hazara Culture House in 2025. Through public events, institutional dialogue, and cooperation with Finnish and international human rights organizations, the association worked to raise awareness and influence policy discussions.
On October 4, 2025, the Hazara Culture House, in cooperation with Amnesty International Finland and the Finnish Women’s Union, organized a major commemoration event in Helsinki for the victims of the Kaaj Educational Center attack. The event emphasized that the tragedy was part of a long pattern of systematic persecution against the Hazara community.
Speakers addressed the worsening human rights situation in Afghanistan, particularly the collapse of the judicial system, the institutional exclusion of women, restrictions on education, healthcare, and employment, and the forced deportation of Afghan refugees. Panel discussions highlighted women’s health, the rise of child marriage, and the Taliban’s policies as constituting crimes against humanity. The event contributed to sustained public attention and reinforced calls for international accountability and protection.
Meeting Human Right Committee of Finland Parliament
On November 14, 2025, a meeting was arranged by Kieli Contact a group of Finnish and Afghaniststani activist who work for faciliating Finnish language abroad with Human Right Committee of Finland’s parliament. The representatives of the Hazara Culture House also participated. During the meeting, the association raised concerns regarding the systematic persecution of the Hazara community in Afghanistan, the gender-based oppression of women and girls under Taliban rule, and the risks faced by Afghan refugees, including forced returns.
The representatives emphasized the importance of continued Finnish and European engagement on Afghanistan, increased humanitarian assistance directed to civilians, protection of at-risk groups, and the need to recognize gender apartheid and ethnic persecution as serious human rights violations. This meeting marked an important step in strengthening institutional dialogue between the Hazara community and Finnish parliamentary bodies
Engagement with Government and Municipalities
Throughout the year, the Hazara Culture House invested in learning, capacity-building, and integration initiatives.
On February 22, 2025, Member of Executive Board Zainab Alizada and Kamilia Zahidi participated in youth exchange training organized by the Finnish National Agency for Education (Opetushallitus), strengthening the association’s competence in international youth programs.
On Mar 6, 2025, Johanna Laisaari, Deputy Mayor for Education and Training of the City of Helsinki, organized a Multicultural School-Home Collaborations. The representatives of Hazara Culture House Zahra Husseini secretary, Naim Panahi and Enayat Nazari, members of the executive board participated in this training. The focus of the training was discussion on how to improve cooperation between schools and families. The event brought together school principals/representatives of associations and organizations from migrant communities
Engagement with SCO and Municipalities
On autumn 2025 the member of executive board Ahmad Alizda participated a consultative meeting which was invited by Reett Vanhanen Deputy Helsinki Mayor on Education. The purpose of this meeting was discussion how to support those who lives in the Uusimaa region especially improving the swimming skill for the children and teenagers. Hazara Culture House representative showed the commitment for contribution on raising community awareness and training for the swimming skill development.
n cooperation with AUTOKTON ry, the Hazara Culture House organized an integration workshop addressing everyday challenges faced by immigrant communities, including civic participation, urban life, and psychological well-being. Outcomes from these discussions were shared with relevant institutions to support inclusive policy development.
Throughout 2025, the Hazara Culture House continued to strengthen partnerships with Finnish civil society organizations, municipalities, human rights institutions, and multicultural networks. The association actively participated in Moniheli’s 15th Anniversary Celebration, where it presented Hazara culture and arts through a dedicated exhibition desk
Hazara Diaspora Coordination Conference Vienna
The Hazara Culture House actively contributed to national and international forums throughout the year. Its Director participated in the Hazara Community Diaspora Coordination Conference in Vienna, where he outlined the objectives and strategic vision of the association and chaired the conference’s cultural committee.
The Director represented the Hazara Culture House at the Security and Civil Society Conference held in Toila, Estonia, from 4–7 October 2025. The conference brought together government officials and civil society representatives from across Europe and the Mediterranean region. During his intervention, the Director highlighted the situation of Hazara women and the broader Hazara community in Afghanistan, drawing attention to gender apartheid and systematic persecution under Taliban rule. The Director also represented the organization in a meeting with the Council of Europe’s election observation delegation in Finland, where he highlighted both opportunities and structural challenges faced by migrant communities in local elections, including access to information and political representation.
The annual general meeting of the Hazara Culture House was held on January 26, 2025. During this meeting, members reviewed the association’s activities and performance and elected a new Executive Board for a two-year mandate. This process reinforced democratic governance, transparency, and accountability within the organization.
Administrative and Organizational Development
The Executive Board implemented the action plan based on the values and principles set by the General Assembly at its annual meeting. In 2025, Hazara Culture House developed its administrative and organizational structures. Social media platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, X, the official website, and the YouTube channel, were regularly updated. Hazara Culture House holds membership in Moniheli, the Anna Lindh Foundation, and the Hazara Diaspora Network.
Conclusion
In 2025, the Hazara Culture House in Finland consolidated its position as a respected cultural, civic, and human rights organization. Its achievements were the result of collective effort by members, volunteers, partners, and the wider community. Looking forward, the association remains committed to fostering inclusion, preserving cultural heritage, strengthening democratic engagement, and advocating for justice and human dignity in Finland and beyond.
