TROUBLED ISMAILI HOMECOMING - 2003-01-24

Afghanistan's Ismaili community, which suffered mass killings under the Taleban regime, is now facing persecution under the country's new transitional democratic government. The Ismailis, who broke from the mainstream Shi'a Muslims in the 8th century and have over the years settled in several countries and in pockets of Afghanistan, particularly the Kayan valley north-west of Kabul, have long been regarded with suspicion by other groups in this conservative Muslim country because of their unorthodox religious views and practices.