190,000 strong petition urging Morrison to take action for Afghanistan tabled in Parliament

Independent MP Rebekha Sharkie tabled a petition in Parliament today, signed by 189,140 people, calling on Prime Minister Scott Morrison to provide safety for people from Afghanistan.

The petition was tabled on behalf of the Afghanistan- Australian Advocacy Network (AAAN) who have been calling on the government to take action since the fall of Kabul to the Taliban in August.

The petition, calls for an additional humanitarian intake of at least 20,000 places, permanent protection for people from Afghanistan, currently in Australia on temporary protection visas, the prioritisation of family reunion for people in Australia with loved ones stuck in Afghanistan and the lifting of the ban on resettlement of refugees to Australia through the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in Indonesia.

Speaking to the House of Representatives, Sharkie highlighted that Australia was one of the first nations to join the US-led intervention in Afghanistan that removed the Taliban.

She said her community and others around Australia are deeply concerned about the plight of people from Afghanistan following the Coalition withdrawal and subsequent Taliban take over.

"One practical response is for this Government to increase our refugee intake."

"Urgent action is required" she said

Since the Taliban's seizure of power, systemic discrimination, oppression and human rights abuses, particularly against women and vulnerable religious and ethnic groups such as the Hazaras, have been rife.

Over 100,000 people from Afghanistan have applied for protection in Australia but the Morrison Government has so far only committed to 3,000 places from an existing and already cut intake.

Arif Hussein, Human Rights Lawyer, RACS:

“It is clear that the Australian community wants to see action from their government in response to the humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan. It is time that the Australian Government listened to its constituents and committed to an additional 20,000 humanitarian visas for those fleeing the Taliban."

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

"Since the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan, we have seen an escalation of violence, displacement and deaths against Hazara people, who are predominantly Shia Muslims in Afghanistan. In the last week and a half, over 200 Hazaras and Shias Muslims have been killed in two separate attacks on Shia Mosques during Friday prayers in Afghanistan. This is further proof that the Australian government must commit to an additional 20,000 humanitarian places for those most at risk in Afghanistan. "

Shabnam Safa, Chair at the National Refugee-led Advisory and Advocacy Group (NRAAG):

“In the past two months, we have seen support for action for Afghanistan from people across the country, across the political spectrum and faith leaders.

Whilst we welcome the settlement support package announced by the government last week to support the evacuees from Afghanistan, it is evident that we need to be doing so much more to match our involvement in and responsibility towards Afghanistan and its people over the last 20 years.

We need concrete action by providing at least 20,000 additional humanitarian places, just like the Abbott government did in response to the Syrian crisis or the Fraser government in response to the Vietnam conflict. We need to step up and show leadership in this space. Countries like Canada and the UK have already done this, we can too.”

Media Contact: Emma Davies, emma.davies@racs.org.au