Media Coverage Recap: Marking the Third Anniversary of the Taliban’s Violent Return to Power

On 12 August 2024, members of the Australian Hazara Advocacy Network (AHAN) and broader community from Afghanistan gathered at Australian Parliament House to mark the third year anniversary of the violent takeover of Afghanistan by the Taliban, and to highlight the ongoing human rights violations, persecution and erasure of minorities such as the Hazaras and the gender apartheid.

The day started with members of the community meeting with members of parliament from political parties across the aisle, including the Australian Labor Party, the Liberal National Party, The Australian Greens and members of the crossbench.

This was followed by a press conference at the Mural Hall, along with co-chair of the Parliamentary Friends of the Hazaras (PFH) and member of North Sydney, Kylea Tink MP, and Senator David Shoebridge.

AHAN also screened a short documentary film developed by AHAN member, Muzafar Ali, which drew on information collected during his recent trip to Afghanistan. Member for Parramatta and Chair of the PFH, Dr. Andrew Charlton MP; Co-Chair, Kylea Tink MP; Member of Cowan, Anne Aly MP; and Senator David Shoebridge also spoke at the screening.

Here is a recap of the media coverage of the day:

Guardian Australia:

ABC Radio National: Three years on: Afghanistan under the Taliban

ABC News Afternoon Briefing (starts from 43rd minute)

7am Podcast: Inside the illegal underground schools for Afghan girls

Women’s Agenda: ‘A nightmare’: 1.4 million girls in Afghanistan have been denied their right to education since 2021

Afghanistan International:

Media Release: Third Anniversary of the Fall of Afghanistan to the Taliban

Date: 12 August 2024

Title: Marking the Third Anniversary of the Taliban’s Violent Return to Power: Highlighting the Ongoing Persecution of the Hazara Community and the Systematic Oppression of Women

On the third anniversary of the Taliban’s violent return to power in Afghanistan, we must reflect on the grave human rights abuses that have unfolded over the past three years. To mark this tragic day, the Australian Hazara Advocacy Network (AHAN), in collaboration with the Parliamentary Friends of the Hazaras, is gathering at the Australian Parliament House to highlight the Taliban’s unchecked human rights violations by showcasing a documentary filmed by AHAN member Muzafar Ali during a recent trip to Afghanistan.

Persecution of the Hazara Community:

●        Historical Context: The Hazara community, a predominantly Shia Muslim ethnic group, has faced long-standing discrimination and violence in Afghanistan.

●        Post-Taliban Takeover: Since the Taliban’s return to power, Hazara persecution has intensified. Reports indicate targeted killings, forced displacements, and destruction of Hazara homes and properties.

●        Four-Faceted Persecution:

●        State Surveillance: The Taliban have increased surveillance of Hazara communities, leading to heightened fear and suppression of dissent.

●        Erosion of Identity: Strict dress codes and cultural restrictions are imposed to erase Hazara cultural identity.

●        Continued Violence: Repeated targeted attacks on Hazara places of worship, education, and general gathering. A minivan carrying Hazara passengers was targeted just last night (11 August 2024) in the Hazara neighborhood of Dasht-e-Barchi. These attacks, often claimed by ISIS-K are increasingly common under Taliban now.

●        Denial of Women's Participation: Hazara women, and women generally, are subjected to gender apartheid, being denied participation in all spheres of life, exacerbating their marginalization.

Systematic Oppression of Women and Girls:

●        Gender Apartheid: The Taliban’s policies have institutionalized gender oppression, amounting to what many describe as gender apartheid. Women and girls face severe restrictions on education, employment, and freedom of movement.

●        Human Rights Violations: Women and girls are subjected to violence, including arrests for non-compliance with dress codes, corporal punishment, and enforced disappearances.

●        Economic Impact: Restrictions on women’s right to work have plunged many families deeper into poverty, with increased reports of depression and suicide among women and girls.

Crimes Against Humanity:

●        International Recognition: The human rights violations against women and girls in Afghanistan are so severe that they may constitute crimes against humanity. These include gender persecution, murder, torture, enslavement, sexual violence, and other inhumane acts.

●        Call for Accountability: There is a growing call for the international community to recognize the Taliban’s actions as crimes against humanity and to take decisive action to hold perpetrators accountable.

Call to Action:

●        Support Parliamentary Motion: We urge Members of Parliament to vote in favor of motions that the Parliamentary Friendship Group for Hazaras brings to the house in support of the Hazaras, persecuted minorities and the women of Afghanistan.

●        Incorporate Human Rights in Diplomatic Engagement: Ensure that human rights and the voices of at risk minorities and women are central to political processes and diplomatic engagements with Afghanistan, and work towards recognition of gender apartheid in Afghanistan as a crime against humanity by the Australian Government.

●        Special Humanitarian Program and Family Reunion: Expand the special humanitarian intake for vulnerable communities from Afghanistan and reform family reunion rules to account for unique circumstances of these vulnerable groups.

Australia’s Responsibility:

Australia cannot neglect the people of Afghanistan, particularly the Hazara community and Afghan women, who have found a second home in Australia and contributed to our society. We have a moral and humanitarian obligation to stand in solidarity with them, amplify their voices, and take concrete actions to support their fight for justice and human rights.

Quotes:

Muzafar Ali, AHAN Member:

“My visit to Afghanistan in May 2024 revealed the extent of the Taliban’s brutality. I saw firsthand the fear in the eyes of Hazara families, the courage of women running underground schools, and the resilience of a community under siege. The international community must not turn a blind eye to these atrocities. We must support the brave individuals risking their lives for education and freedom, and hold the Taliban accountable for their crimes.”

Kylea Tink MP, Co-Chair Parliamentary Friends of the Hazaras:

“The situation in Afghanistan remains volatile and the bravery of the Hazara-Australian community and the ongoing fight for freedoms and human rights deserves our respect and support. I stand in solidarity with you today.”

Zohal Azra, Lawyer and AHAN member:

“Since August 2021, millions of women and girls have been barred from schools, universities, and most workplaces. The Hazara community has faced increased violence, discrimination, and dispossession from their ancestral lands. The Taliban have also introduced restrictions to prevent Hazaras and Shias from holding public religious ceremonies. The UN and international community are holding meetings with Taliban officials at Doha without including persecuted groups such as women, Hazaras, and the LGBTQ community in the discussions. It’s imperative that we do not forget the plight of the Hazara people who are facing genocide and millions of women who are stripped from their most basic rights.”

Shabnam Safa, Refugee Advocate and AHAN Member:

“There should be no place for the Taliban and their atrocities in today’s world, and they must be held accountable. The people of Afghanistan, especially the women, continue to pay the highest price for the international community’s tragic diplomatic failures that reinstated the Taliban’s barbaric regime in Afghanistan.

Long persecuted for their ethnicity in Afghanistan, the Hazaras endured brutal atrocities at the hand of the Taliban in the 90s and are now once again subject to the same horrors. Australia must join the call for accountability.”

Contact: Zaki Haidari - 0405 968 455 - hazaraadvocacyau@gmail.com 

END.

AHAN Statement: World Refugee Day

Today, June 20th, is World Refugee Day. A day designated by the United Nations to honour refugees, their rights, needs and dreams; to celebrate the strength and courage of people who have been forced to flee their homes to escape conflict or persecution; to focus global attention to find solutions to the plight of refugees and mobilise political will and resources to improve their social and economic inclusion.

This week, Refugee Week, is dedicated to raising awareness about the experiences of refugees and to celebrating the immense contributions they make around the world.

The systemic marginalisation, discrimination, and violence against Hazaras particularly in Afghanistan and Pakistan have forced many to flee their homes, seek asylum and become refugees. This week, we remember the historic and ongoing persecution of the Hazara people leading to our forced displacement from our ancestral lands and homes in search of safety in other parts of the world, including Australia.

Tens of thousands of Hazaras call Australia home who have made considerable contributions to Australian society, from establishing thriving businesses to excelling in various professions, and enriching its cultural landscape with vibrant traditions and community festivals. Despite the immense challenges, Hazara refugees and asylum seekers in Australia continue to show remarkable resilience and enhance the social, cultural and economic fabric of this nation.

While we celebrate the remarkable resilience, strength and contributions of the Hazara community in Australia, we cannot overlook the impact of punitive refugee and asylum policies and prolonged uncertainty on the wellbeing and potential of many in our community. Today, and every other day, we advocate for more compassionate and humane policies ensuring safety, dignity, and stability for Hazaras and all refugees.

Launch of Parliamentary Friends of the Hazaras

Today in Canberra the Parliamentary Friends of the Hazara group will be launched by Dr Andrew Charlton MP (Chair), and Ms Kylea Tink MP (Co-Chair) and Members of Parliament and Senators across the political spectrum.

The first meeting of the Parliamentary Friends of Hazara comes at a crucial time for the Hazara people as they continue to face a dramatic escalation of violence, forced displacement, dispossession, and systemic cultural, civil and political repression since the Taliban took over Kabul in August 2021.

The dramatic escalation of violence experienced by the Hazara community in Afghanistan, was again highlighted by the attack on Kaaj Academic Learning Centre late last year in a predominantly Hazara neighbourhood of Kabul. In the attack 54 people were killed and 112 people injured, mostly school-aged Hazara girls and boys.

Following this attack, and in the absence of any protection for their families and communities back in Afghanistan, the Hazara-Australian community have turned to the Australian government with the hope they will provide some measure of protection for their loved ones in Afghanistan.

After two decades of military involvement in Afghanistan, which included a promise to protect minorities, the Australian government has a moral obligation to ensure the safety of the Hazara community.

At a time when the Taliban continue to act with impunity, the Hazara community in Australia hopes that the establishment of the Parliamentary Friends of Hazara will provide a continued spotlight on the escalating violence experienced by the people living under Taliban rule.

Dr Andew Charlton MP, Chair of the Parliamentary Friends of Hazaras”

“The launch of this Parliamentary Friendship Group marks a new phase in the fight for greater recognition of Hazara oppression and persecution. The members of this group are bound by a shared vision to help end the persecution and oppression of religious and ethnic minorities in Afghanistan. I am encouraged to see so many of our country’s representatives advocating for the Hazara community on the national stage.”

Ms Kylea Tink MP, Co-Char of the Parliamentary Friends of Hazaras”

“I will work towards a more inclusive and truly multicultural Australia through this Friendship Group. I want to see real inclusion; relationships formed, and bridges built between our Hazara community, our fellow Afghan communities, and our Australian Parliament. I will also strive to see the needs of these communities better represented and included in national conversation.”

Sitarah Mohammadi, Hazara-Australian and JD Candidate:

“Australia is home to thousands of Hazaras, and the formation of Parliamentary Friendship Group is a positive step forward in the fight for recognition of the ongoing, systematically targeted nature of genocidal atrocities against the Hazara people. We urge our federal representatives to robustly advocate for the urgent needs of Hazaras in Afghanistan, including protection mechanisms for Hazaras inside Afghanistan, priority for humanitarian protection visas, and an equitable approach to aid distribution in the country.”

Zohal Azra - Hazara-Australian and Co-founder of Huma Media (Community Media):

“Hazaras have historically faced immense persecution and discrimination, however, this did not stop them from scoring the highest university marks, representing Afghanistan in the international stage in terms of sports, culture, music and the arts. .

We welcome the launch of the Parliamentary Friendship Group of the Hazaras, and look forward to working closely with the members of the Australian parliament on urgent issues affecting Hazaras in Australia and Afghanistan.”

Sajjad Askary, Hazara-Australian and JD Candidate:

​​:The formation of this Friendship Group is a step in the right direction. The Hazara people face a real threat to their lives and survival as the Taliban's grip on power and control in Afghanistan tightens. The Hazaras have a tragic history with the Taliban regime, and the Hazara community in Australia hopes that the Parliamentary Friends of Hazaras will work to address the immediate needs of Hazaras in Afghanistan under the Taliban's violent rule.”

Arif Hazara, Australian Hazara, and Secretary of Akademos Society Inc:

“Australian Hazaras are one of the most successful refugee and multicultural communities in Australia. In spite of the challenges, our community have worked hard to contribute back to our adopted home; reviving once decaying suburbs such as Dandenong in Melbourne’s South East or Prospect Road in South Australia into thriving and prosperous communities (to name a few), and standing by our fellow Australians during our difficult times such as the 2019 summer bushfires when our community not only raised hundreds of thousands of dollars but also sent dozens of volunteer tradies to affected areas to assist with recovery work. Through the Parliamentary Friendship of the Hazaras, we aim to achieve better policy outcomes for the community by working closely with the Australian parliamentarians and the Government.”

Media Contact:

Email: HazaraAdvocacyAU@gmail.com