Winnipeg’s Afghan Community Unites In Solidarity of Hazaras Victims

Names have not been included on request from participants due to the sensitive nature of the situation. 

Friday, Winnipeg’s Afghan community gathered on the steps of Manitoba’s legislative building to speak out against the ongoing genocide of the Hazaras people.

Shouting, “Stop Hazara Genocide!” the protest is a global movement in response to an explosion attack in Kabul where about 60 students—primarily girls—were killed and 114 others wounded from the attack on the Kaaj education center. Protestors are looking to their governments to be the voice of the Hazara people and not remain silent in the face of these targeted terrorist attacks. 

One of the Winnipeg protest organizers said the Hazara people have a vast history of over 2,500 years and comprise around 20-25 per cent of Afghanistan’s population. The Hazara people have been facing systematic discrimination and targeted attacks for many years. Unfortunately, among all the statistics of terrorist and explosive attacks, the primary victims are the Hazara.

“Throughout the history of Afghanistan, the Hazara people have witnessed many cruelties and oppressions, which history will judge by itself. Despite widespread attacks against the Hazaras, the United Nations, governments, and human rights institutions have not yet paid attention to this critical issue.”

With the fall of the republic and the arrival of the Taliban, the organizer said the situation is very worrying as systematic attacks on educational centers, schools, hospitals, wedding salons, mosques, and sports clubs with thousands killed and injured by terrorist groups.

“We have many mothers, fathers, daughters, women, and brothers who have lost many family members in terrorist attacks and targeted explosions, but they are still fighting for justice.”

Voices from Winnipeg’s Afghan community 

“We raise our voices against ethnic cleansing going on right now in Afghanistan. To put pressure on the Taliban through governments and organizations which support human rights.”

“We want to stop the Taliban from genociding the Hazara people or others. I don’t know why some countries are not talking.”

“What’s going on in my country is not good for my people. They are killing the Hazara people. They’re not letting women go to school; girls go to school to get an education. And they’re killing the Hazara people, which is not fair. We want them [the Taliban] to stop, and if Canada can help through support, some sanctions to aid the people against the Taliban, we support that.”

Protests worldwide started on October 8 and now include a Twitter campaign, “#StopHazaraGenocide,” which has been tweeted over 12 million times.