Nearly 200,000 signatures delivered to MP Alex Hawke’s office calling for Action for Afghanistan
Nearly 200,000 signatures have been delivered to Minister for Immigration Alex Hawke’s office, calling for concrete actions to provide safety for people from Afghanistan.
The signatures from a petition, which followed an open letter, were delivered by Tamkin Hakim, an Afghanistan-Australian member of the Hills Shire community who has family who remain stuck in Afghanistan.
Hakim was joined by the family of lawyer and human rights advocate Mariam Veiszadeh and Rev. Carmel Ieraci, Senior Minister, Wesley Uniting Church, Castle Hill.
Quotes
Tamkin Hakim
“It has been very difficult for myself and my family since the Taliban took over Kabul over a month and half ago.
“There has been no end to the horrific news coming out of my former homeland. Girls have been banned from school, women have not been able to return to their jobs or their university studies, and journalists have been beaten.
“I am worried about my family members and relatives back home.
“As an Australian myself, I am asking for the Australian Government to take Action For Afghanistan, now.”
Mariam Veiszadeh, Lawyer and Human Rights Advocate
“This campaign has received overwhelming support from the Australian community. It’s clear they want to see action for Afghanistan.
“Now it’s time for our leaders to hear the calls from their constituents and provide critical assistance.
“Australia has an ethical and moral obligation to help the people of Afghanistan and we must act now.”
Rev. Carmel Ieraci, Senior Minister, Welsey Uniting Church Castle Hill
“As a local church we are committed to standing with the Afghanistan community at this time, including women and those most vulnerable.
“We’ve been active on social media, I’ve personally been a part of a meeting with our local MP, Minister Alex Hawke, and our congregation has been seeking ways to assist.”
“The Uniting Church in Australia Assembly has also been very active in joining calls urging the Australian Government to act urgently, swiftly, compassionately and with leadership in responding to the crisis. We will continue to raise our voice alongside our sisters and brothers from Afghanistan on this issue.”
Arif Hussein, Human Rights Lawyer and member of AAAN
“There are approximately 80, 000 Australians that call Australia home, having also left Afghanistan. And each one of us have been calling on the Australian government to take immediate steps in response to the humanitarian crisis unfolding in Afghanistan.
“Persecuted groups such as the Hazaras and women, are now facing extreme risk to their lives.
“Australia could today be the lifeline to the Afghan community it promised to be 20 years ago.”
Fr Luis Fernando Montano Rodriguez, The Catholic Parish of Castle Hill
“As we follow closely the situation in Afghanistan, we cannot remain indifferent to the sufferings of so many who are asking for a fraternal hand. As Catholics and Christian it is our responsibility to join hands in support of our sisters and brothers in need. Now more than ever are called to join hands in solidarity with the people who experience suffering and desolation. It is core to the Christian message to do anything we can for those in need.
“The Catholic Parish of Castle Hill and the Diocese of Parramatta stand in solidarity with our brothers and sisters and we want to join our voice to call for action to support and welcome those who want to make our beautiful land of Australia their home too.”
The open letter and petition, organised by the Afghanistan-Australian Advocacy Network, is calling for the following 4 immediate steps:
Committing to an additional humanitarian intake of at least 20,000 prioritising the most vulnerable persecuted people, identified above, similar to Canada’s announcement of accepting 20,000 refugees from Afghanistan – an intake they have now doubled to 40k - and similar to Australia’s response to the Syrian conflict in 2015 in accepting 12,000 vulnerable Syrian refugees.
Granting permanent protection to more than 5,100 refugees from Afghanistan, predominantly from the historically persecuted Hazara ethnic groups, who are currently on temporary protection visas in Australia.
Prioritising the family reunification visas of people from Afghanistan in Australia, including those who are prevented from reuniting with their families due to a government ministerial directive that requires the Department of Home Affairs deprioritise family reunion of hundreds of people in Australia.
Lifting the ban on resettlement of refugees to Australia through the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in Indonesia, a ban which has been in place since 2014. This ban continues to limit resettlement options for 10,000 refugees from Afghanistan awaiting safety and protection.
Over 9,000 academics, community leaders, human rights advocates, lawyers, doctors, and civil society representatives signed the open letter, followed by over 100 prominent Australians, including Australian of the Year Grace Tame, Tamie Fraser, Nova Peris OAM and Osher Günsberg.
189,140 signatures followed from the subsequent petition.
The handover was delivered in line with COVID-19 health orders,
About the AAAN
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 (RACS) emma.davies@racs.org.au