100 Hazara Shia Muslims Killed or Injured in an Islamic State attack in Afghanistan: Australia must act now

At least 100 worshippers from the Hazara ethnic group have been killed or injured in a suicide bombing that targeted a Shia Mosque in Kunduz Afghanistan yesterday.

The Islamic State’s local affiliate in Afghanistan, Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISKP) took responsibility.

This latest attack marks a worrying and dramatic escalation of violence against the Hazara people who have long been the target of sectarian violence, systemic discrimination, and persecution in Afghanistan.

Reports of mistreatment, displacement, violence and death are becoming commonplace. The Hazara community has never known safety whilst the Taliban have reigned.

Despite the acute dangers faced by at risk groups like the Hazara people, the Australian Government has not provided any additional humanitarian places outside of its prior intake for people from Afghanistan, including women, girls and those most vulnerable.

Mariam Veizadeh, Lawyer and Human Rights Advocate:

“We are growing increasingly concerned about the plight of the Hazara people who very clearly face far greater risk and these events only further highlight this harsh reality.” 

Zohal Azra, Hazara-Australian:

“With the return of the Taliban rule we are once again witnessing the resumption of nationwide attacks on the Hazara community along with the continued forced migration from their lands in Daykundi.

“In the face of increased insecurity in Afghanistan, the Australian Government must act now, and commit to an additional 20,000 humanitarian intake from Afghanistan.” 

Barat Ali Batoor, Hazara-Australian, photographer, and filmmaker:

“The international community, including Australia has a responsibility to protect the Hazaras from being subjected to another genocide. Australia must provide an additional 20,000 humanitarian visas, this will save the lives of many of these people and is a moral obligation for Australia after 20 years of war.”

Afghanistan-Australian Advocacy Network

The Afghanistan-Australian Advocacy Network (AAAN) are calling for an urgent commitment from the Australian Government to an additional humanitarian intake of at least 20,000 places. Such a resettlement program should prioritise the most vulnerable persecuted people of Afghanistan, including the Hazara people.

In addition to the one-off 20,000 emergency humanitarian intake, the AAAN are calling for permanent protection for the 4,200+ refugees from Afghanistan, predominately from the Hazara ethnic group, on temporary protection visas here in Australia and the prioritising of family-reunification visas for people with loved ones stuck offshore. Australia must also lift the ban on resettlement of refugees to Australia through the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in Indonesia.

Petitions and an open letter published by the Network have now gained over 196k signatures from concerned organisations and members of the Australian community who are urging for Action for Afghanistan.

After nearly two decades of intervention and broken promises, the international community, including Australia leave behind a rapidly deteriorating humanitarian crisis, an Afghanistan that is under the control of the Taliban. All the gains made to advance democracy, human rights, and protection for ethnic groups are rapidly evaporating.