Afghanistan-Australian community and Australian Muslims condemn AFIC’s promotion of the Taliban

Today, the Afghanistan-Australian Advocacy Network (AAAN), joined by prominent individuals, and organisations in the Australian Muslim community condemned a panel organised by the Australian Federation of Islamic Councils (AFIC) featuring two members of the Taliban.

The event, since removed from AFIC’s Facebook page, remains listed on the AFIC website and the AAAN understands the organisers intend for the event to go ahead despite direct representation to AFIC leadership by AAAN and calls for it to be stopped.

In the last two months, the Afghanistan-Australian community has witnessed a constant flow of human rights abuses, and atrocities committed by the Taliban against family members, relatives, and community back home.

For women and girl and vulnerable minority groups, we have seen the Taliban re-escalating their systemic discrimination and we’ve witnessed the oppression of Afghanistan's long-persecuted Hazara people.

The AAAN also call on AFIC to withdraw the invitation to the members of the Taliban and to offer an unreserved apology to the Afghanistan-Australian community.

Arif Hussein, Afghanistan-Australian Advocacy Network: “There is no justification for giving a public platform to members of the Taliban at a time when they continue to repress the rights of women and minorities such as the Hazaras in Afghanistan. This event clearly demonstrates a clear lack of judgment and empathy on AFIC’s part.”

Shabnam Safa, Chair at the National Refugee-led Advisory and Advocacy Group (NRAAG): “As members of the Afghanistan-Australian community, we are appalled and horrified that this blatant promotional event for the Taliban is being carried out in our name. The large-scale outrage and strong condemnation shows that this is incredibly insensitive, out of touch and not representative of the broader Australian Muslim community.”

Mariam Veizsadeh, Islamophobia Register of Australia: “It is deeply shameful that AFIC thought it was appropriate to provide such a platform to the Taliban. It’s just further proof that AFIC is out of step with Australian Muslims.”

Diana Sayed, CEO, Australian Muslim Women’s Centre for Human Rights: “After everything the people from Afghanistan have endured over the last 2 months and 2 decades -- we are beyond words at this event even being in contemplation, let alone going ahead to platform and legitimise a brutal regime. It is a direct moral affront to the very real risk and danger so many are experiencing right now, especially the uncertainty at what the future holds for women, girls and all ethnic and religious minorities.”

Randa Abdel-Fattah, Writer, Lawyer, Advocate: “At a time when Afghan Australians and their allies are pushing for the Australian government to increase its intake of humanitarian visas for Afghans fleeing the brutality of the Taliban it is incomprehensible that AFIC would platform the Taliban in an online event. This is a dehumanising slap in the face of Afghans who are simultaneously experiencing the trauma and anguish of the Taliban’s return and fighting for the Australian government to do the bare minimum to protect Afghans after 20 years of Australia’s complicity in the destruction of their country. This event is harmful and insulting. AFIC has well and truly earned its reputation as the peak discredited Muslim organisation.”

Sara Saleh, Poet, Writer and Advocate: “If you want to shine a light on the destruction and devastation Afghanistan and its people have faced, you don’t talk to the parties that have had a hand in causing these injustices, you talk to the communities who have been - and still are - directly impacted. The ones who are fighting for their families and their homes, for safety and dignity. Platforming war criminals at the expense of communities is beyond callous and harmful - it's indefensible.”

 Zaahir Edries, Executive Member, Muslim Legal Network, NSW: “Afghan Australians are desperately seeking protection for their families in a country that is suffering obvious instabilities and it is disappointing that AFIC chooses to platform the views of the Taliban, a group that has visited much violence upon their own people in recent history, rather than direct their efforts to lobby for greater humanitarian assistance form the Australian Government to those in need.”

Yassmin Abdel Magied, Writer, Broadcaster, Advocate: “AFIC should be deeply ashamed of spending valuable time and energy platforming the Taliban. There is no excuse for such behaviour. All of our energies must be directed towards supporting the Afghans fleeing the Taliban’s return, and those in the diaspora grieving all that has been lost. I trust AFIC will see the error in their ways and cancel the event immediately.”

Hana Asafiri, Community Advocate, Leader: “The Taliban’s brutal treatment of Afghan women and it’s violently enforced regime and atrocities committed against women and girls should be a cause for concern to women in society and governments everywhere. If we are genuinely committed to the eradication of violence and abuse of women and girls we have a responsibility to condemn the manifestation everywhere.”

Omar Sakr, Poet, Writer: “I stand with my Afghan-Australian brothers and sisters in asking AFIC to cancel this event. What has AFIC done to hear their voices, to amplify their concerns, to help their families who have suffered and continue to suffer the ill-effects of Taliban violence? Whatever the intentions behind this dialogue, it is platforming a cruel regime at the expense of our brothers and sisters in the community who should be a priority.”

Prof Shahram Akbarzadeh, PhD, Deputy Director (International), Alfred Deakin Institute for Citizenship and Globalisation: “This event risks undermining a lot of good work by Australian Muslims to overcome prejudice. AFIC is giving a platform to a group that has violated human rights, women’s rights and targeted religious and ethnic minorities. Australian Muslims have nothing to do with the Taliban. Australian Muslims value tolerance and respect for diversity. They value Australian multiculturalism and the rule of law. For most Australian Afghans the idea that the Taliban would speak for them is simply repugnant. AFIC should not be so detached for the community. It should not work against Muslims in Australia.”

Lydia Shelly, Lawyer, Counter Terrorism Expert: “It is shocking that in 2021, we need to educate an Australian based Muslim organisation that should instinctively understand the horrors of the “war on terror”, that inviting members of the Taliban to speak with an all male panel is not stellar, but it is offensive, dangerous. It also shows a complete lack of leadership and responsibility towards the Australian Muslim community. AFIC are not a Government department or a mainstream news organisation -- they are a small Muslim organisation which should be responsible in their leadership.”

The Afghanistan-Australian Advocacy Network is made up of people from diverse ethnic and religious groups which form the Afghanistan-Australian community. They are academics, lawyers, health workers, advocates, community workers, tradespeople and educators, who came to Australia as refugees, as children of refugees, and migrants.

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