Dozens of Hazara Students and Worshippers Killed and Injured in targeted attacks in Afghanistan: Australia must act now

At least 31 worshippers from the Hazara ethnic group have been killed and 87 injured in a bombing that targeted a Shia Mosque in Mazar-e-Sharif, Afghanistan, yesterday.

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

This latest attack comes just two days after another targeted attack on Hazara schools in western Kabul killing at least 6 people and wounding more than 20 according to Taliban officials. However, reports from the community estimate that more than 200 students were killed in the attack on Wednesday.

Hazara people have long been the target of sectarian violence, systemic discrimination and persecution in Afghanistan, never knowing safety whilst the Taliban have reigned.

These recent attacks mark a worrying and dramatic escalation of violence against the Hazara people since the Taliban forcibly took control of Afghanistan in August 2021.

Despite the acute dangers faced by at-risk groups like the Hazara people, the Australian Government has not started the processing of humanitarian visas allocated to those fleeing the Taliban, and has not provided permanent protection to people from Afghanistan currently living in Australia on temporary protection visas, most of whom are from the Hazara ethnic group.

Barat Ali Batoor, Photographer, Filmmaker and Human Rights Advocate:

“The recent attacks on schools in Kabul and on the mosque in Mazar-e-Sharif is the continuation of the historically orchestrated plan of genocide against the Hazaras in Afghanistan.”

“Under the Taliban regime Hazaras are once again more vulnerable than they were under other regimes. They are literally being subject to genocide and the world have to step in to stop it.”

“Countries such as Australia who have been involved militarily in Afghanistan for 20 years to fight the war against terror should expedite the process of humanitarian resettlement and rescue those who are the most vulnerable such as the Hazaras.”

Zaki Haidari, Refugee Rights Advocate:

“The genocide has been continuing against Hazara Shia in Afghanistan and it has increased in the last few days with the recent attacks on defenceless school students and worshippers are beyond bearable.”

“The impact of these horrible attacks have been immense on the Hazara community in Australia. We are asking the Australian government to act now to protect ethnic minorities such as the Hazara people, including fast tracking the humanitarian visa application for those who are fleeing the Taliban regime.”

Mariam Veizadeh, Lawyer and Human Rights Advocate:

“Since the return of the Taliban rule over 8 months ago, there has been a clear escalation of violence against Hazara Shia Muslims in Afghanistan. The Australian government must act now to process humanitarian visas allocated to those fleeing Afghanistan.”

Sitarah Mohammadi, Refugee Rights Advocate:

“The latest round of attacks against Hazaras and Shias in Afghanistan are systematic and deliberate, and part of the ongoing genocide of the Hazara people. Hazara youth and children are being massacred because they are Hazara. They are educated. They represent a driving generational force for social change and the liberation of Afghanistan, from violence, extremism and ethnocentrism.”

“Australia has a large Hazara diaspora population, and they are thriving through education, sports, and employment, boosting Australia’s economy. Australia must formally call these attacks on Hazaras in Afghanistan as systematic and targeted against the Hazaras. Australia must also grant permanent protection to Hazara refugees from Afghanistan on a temporary status.”