Dozens of Hazara students killed and injured in targeted attack in Afghanistan: Australia must act now

A terrorist attack on the Kaaj Academic Learning Centre in a predominantly Hazara neighbourhood of Kabul, Afghanistan, in the early hours of Friday morning local time, has reportedly killed 19 and injured 27 people, including school-aged girls and boys.  

The Albanese Government must respond to the escalating crisis in Afghanistan in a manner that recognizes the threat at-risk groups, such as the Hazaras, currently face.   

The attack on Friday is not an isolated event and is one in a series of targeted attacks against Hazara people in Afghanistan since the Taliban takeover in August last year. 

This includes a bombing in April 2022, which killed 31 worshippers and injured 87 people from the Hazara ethnic group at a Shia Mosque in Mazar-e-Sharif, Afghanistan. As well as a suicide bombing that targeted a Shia Mosque in Kunduz, Afghanistan, in October last year, in which at least 100 worshippers from the Hazara ethnic group were killed or injured. 

This is also the second attack on the Kaaj Academic Learning Centre, with the first occurring in 2018, killing 40 students, and injuring more than 70 others.

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.

With the Taliban’s unwillingness and inability to protect vulnerable ethnic groups, like Hazaras, the Australian Government must fulfill its moral obligation to the people of Afghanistan and provide at least 20,000 emergency humanitarian visa places immediately. 

The government must also ensure permanent protection to refugees already in Australia on uncertain temporary visas and provide resettlement opportunities to refugees in Indonesia as well as remove all delays and restrictions on family reunification pathways.

Sitarah Mohammadi, Spokesperson at World Hazara Council said:

“Just as the Hazara people commemorate the Hazara Genocide of the 1890s this week, Hazaras continue to suffer from the bloodshed in Afghanistan. The suicide attack on Kaaj Educational Center in Dasht-e Barchi, West of Kabul, home to the Hazaras, is part of a cycle of vicious, targeted attacks in the Hazara neighbourhood – a systematic, deliberate campaign to massacre the Hazaras, namely the youth.”

“We call on the international community, including Australia, to recognise the specific targeting and vulnerability of the Hazaras in Afghanistan. The international community ought to monitor the ongoing situation of the Hazaras, gather and document evidence, and conduct a thorough inquiry into these ongoing atrocities of the Hazaras. Hazara refugees should be prioritised for protection by all resettlement states, including Australia.”

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

“The attack on Kaj Academic Learning Centre in Kabul is the continuation of the systematic and targeted killings of the Hazaras in Afghanistan.”

“Since the forceful takeover of Afghanistan, the Hazaras have been subject to many suicide attacks, extra-judicial killings, forced eviction and kidnapping. The community is at immense risk of genocide.”

“In the 20 years of military involvement of Australia in Afghanistan, Hazaras have been the greatest allies of the western forces and have been the flag bearers in the country's development, peace and education. The international community, especially Australia, which is home to the fourth largest population of the Hazaras, must ensure the safety of the Hazaras and provide pathways to those who are at the highest risk of persecution.”

Mariam Veizadeh, Lawyer and Human Rights Advocate said:

“Since the return of the Taliban to power over a year ago, vulnerable ethnic groups such as the Hazaras have experienced an escalation in violence including attacks targeting places of worship and education.  The Australian government must act now to process humanitarian visas allocated to those fleeing Afghanistan.”

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 Media Contact: Sam Brennan, sam.b4@asrc.org.au or 0428 973 324