The Barcelona City Council in Spain has expressed concern over the situation of the Hazara people in Afghanistan by passing a resolution and has urged the international community to take immediate action to protect civilians and prevent escalating violence.
In a statement, the council highlighted the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan, systematic human rights violations, and extensive restrictions on fundamental freedoms, particularly against women, girls, and minorities.
The Barcelona City Council stated that the persistent pattern of violence against the Hazara people could be assessed under international law as serious international crimes, including crimes against humanity and the risk of genocide.
Part of the council’s statement condemned all forms of violence based on ethnic and religious identity against the Hazara people and emphasized the need to end the ipunity of the perpetrators of this violence.
The statement noted that the international community has a responsibility to take immediate action to prevent the continuation of this situation and to protect civilians.
Additionally, the Barcelona City Council underscored the right of victims to access truth, justice, reparations, and guarantees of non-recurrence, and expressed its support for Hazara refugees.
The council called on international organizations to establish or strengthen independent mechanisms for investigating and documenting crimes against the Hazara people, to hold perpetrators accountable in international judicial bodies, and to take urgent measures to prevent further violence.
The council has urged the United Nations and the European Union to play a more active role in protecting civilians and supporting human rights in Afghanistan.
The Barcelona City Council emphasized that defending human dignity, justice, and protecting vulnerable minorities is part of the city’s commitments, and ignoring this situation could lead to the repetition of irreparable tragedies.
