BACKGROUND

Afghanistan has a long history of persecution and discrimination against religious minorities, including Hindus, Sikhs, Christians, and Jews. These communities have faced numerous challenges and atrocities over the past few decades, including targeted bombings and attacks on their places of worship.

Attacks on minority places of worship in Afghanistan include the bombing of a Hindu temple in Kabul in 2010, which killed at least one person and injured several others. In 2018, ISIS targeted a Shia Mosque in eastern Afghanistan, killing at least 62 people and injuring more than 100 others. And in 2019, a suicide bombing at a Hazara wedding in Kabul left at least 63 people dead and over 180 others injured.

This situation reached a tragic climax on March 25, 2020, when ISIS attacked a Sikh place of worship in Kabul, killing 25 people. This attack, along with other targeted assaults on minority communities, led to an exodus of these communities from Afghanistan, a country that had been their home for centuries.

SYNOPSIS

In "Baywatana: A Story of Afghan Religious Minorities," our documentary film will explore the experiences of these refugees as they flee persecution and struggle to rebuild their lives in a new country. Through a focus on the loss of freedom of religion and security, we hope to shed light on the human cost of religious conflict and persecution.

"Baywatana" will explore the experiences of these refugees as they flee persecution and struggle to rebuild their lives in a new country. Through the personal accounts of these individuals, the film will bring four threads of stories to give a holistic and nuanced understanding of the challenges and struggles that these communities face as they try to rebuild their lives in a new country. We believe that this film has the potential to inspire and inform audiences around the world, and we are committed to telling this important and timely story.

TREATMENT

Story Structure
The story structure of "Baywatana: A Story of Afghan Religious Minorities" will follow four threads, one each for Sikh, Hindu, Christian, and Jewish communities. Each thread will follow a person or family who has fled Afghanistan due to religious persecution and is now living in a new country. The documentary will explore their experiences and challenges as they adapt to their new lives, including their memories of Afghanistan, the difficulties of starting anew, and their struggles to maintain their cultural and religious traditions in a new country.

Theme
The theme of "Baywatana: A Story of Afghan Religious Minorities" is the impact of religious persecution on the lives of individuals and communities. The documentary will explore the experiences of those who have fled Afghanistan due to persecution, highlighting the challenges and struggles they face as they try to rebuild their lives in a new country. The theme will be presented through the personal stories of the subjects, as well as through interviews with experts and academics who can provide context and analysis.

Style
The style of "Baywatana: A Story of Afghan Religious Minorities" will be immersive and intimate, using a combination of personal interviews, verite footage, and historical context to bring the stories of the subjects to life. The documentary will aim to create a sense of connection and empathy with the subjects, inviting the audience to understand their experiences and challenges on a deeper level.

Format
The format of "Baywatana: A Story of Afghan Religious Minorities" will be a feature-length documentary, with a running time of approximately 45-60 minutes. The film will be structured around the four threads, with each thread focusing on a different community (Sikh, Hindu, Christian, and Jewish).

Voice

The voice of "Baywatana: A Story of Afghan Religious Minorities" will be that of the subjects themselves, as they share their personal experiences and perspectives on the challenges they have faced as religious minorities in Afghanistan. The voice will also include that of experts and academics, who will provide context and analysis on the broader issues of religious persecution and displacement.

Point of View
The point of view of "Baywatana: A Story of Afghan Religious Minorities" will be that of the subjects themselves, as they share their personal experiences and perspectives on the challenges they have faced as religious minorities in Afghanistan. The film will aim to give voice to their stories and to create a sense of connection and empathy with the audience.