Humaira Rezaei, a human rights activist from Afghanistan, has stated that Hazaras in Afghanistan continue to face targeted attacks, religious persecution, discrimination, forced displacement, and the seizure of their ancestral lands.
Ms. Rezaei made these remarks during a session of the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva, emphasizing that the international community must recognize the historical and ongoing persecution of Hazaras in Afghanistan as genocide.
In part of her speech, she strongly condemned the “egregious and systematic human rights violations against women and girls and the Hazara community.”
She stressed that these abuses have forced many to seek refuge and support through dangerous routes to neighboring countries and Europe.
She added that last month, an explosion at the “Sham-e-Hedayat” school in western Kabul, an area predominantly inhabited by Hazaras, injured at least 42 children.
This human rights activist has called for the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in Afghanistan to be tasked with preparing a dedicated thematic report on Hazaras.
She emphasized: “It must be ensured that the newly established independent investigative mechanism for Afghanistan prioritizes genocide and other heinous crimes committed against Hazaras and holds all perpetrators accountable.”
Humaira Rezaei stated: “All available tools must be used to end the forced displacement, land seizures, arbitrary detentions, and targeted killings of Hazaras in Afghanistan and to guarantee their freedom of religion or belief.”
She urged European countries to maintain safe pathways for support and asylum and to adhere to the principle of non-refoulement of refugees.
She stressed that the international community must hold accountable those responsible for the genocide of Hazaras in Afghanistan and provide justice and reparations for victims and survivors.
Rezaei stated that the international community must take serious and practical action before more lives are lost and more Hazara communities suffer.
