Refugees in Islamabad Urge UN to Recognize ‘Hazara Genocide’ in Afghanistan

KABUL, AFGHANISTAN – A group of refugees in Pakistan’s Islamabad have called on the United Nations and foreign nations to officially recognize the “Hazara genocide” in Afghanistan.

During a gathering on Tuesday, October 22, they issued a resolution highlighting the century-long persecution and discrimination faced by the Hazara community in Afghanistan.

The refugees called for immediate protection from what they described as systematic and targeted killings, urging international human rights organizations to press the UN Security Council for an emergency session to address the Hazara plight. They emphasized that the ongoing violence constitutes genocide and demanded action to halt it.

In their appeal, the refugees urged countries, particularly Iran, Pakistan, and Turkey, to stop deporting Hazara asylum seekers back to Afghanistan and to seriously consider their requests for refuge.

The group also stressed the importance of unity among Hazara elites, civil society, and political organizations, calling for the formation of a strong political, social, and cultural alliance to safeguard their community.

Hazara activists have long urged the UN and the international community to acknowledge the violence against Hazaras in Afghanistan as genocide and to take meaningful steps to prevent further atrocities.

As a predominantly Shia Muslim ethnic group in a Sunni-majority country, Hazaras have faced decades of violent persecution, systematic attacks, and marginalization.

Since the Taliban’s return to power, the situation for Hazaras has worsened, with an increase in violence and exclusion from basic services, education, and employment. Many attacks against Hazaras remain unprosecuted, further deepening their vulnerability. The latest targeted attack on Hazaras occurred on September 12 between central Daykundi and Ghor provinces killing 14 people and injuring six others.

International efforts to address the Hazara genocide have gained traction in recent years.

In May 2023, a seminar organized by Hazara advocates and hosted by Canadian parliamentarians took place in Ottawa, focusing on the ongoing violence against the community. Earlier in 2022, a cross-party parliamentary inquiry was launched in the UK to investigate atrocities against Hazaras in both Afghanistan and Pakistan.

In November 2022, the Dandenong City Council in Melbourne, Australia, became the first governmental body in the world to officially recognize the Hazara genocide, following a motion introduced the previous month.