THREE THINGS AUSTRALIA CAN AND MUST IMMEDIATELY DO TO HELP THE PEOPLE OF AFGHANISTAN

Sitarah Mohammadi and Sajjad Askary

September 2021

This is perhaps the lowest many Afghans have been in our lifetime, and really, this is a low point for humanity. After 20 years of blood and treasure invested by the international community, and the resilience, strides, and hard work of the people of Afghanistan, particularly by women and religious minorities (like the Hazaras people), the government of Afghanistan has collapsed. Afghanistan, and its people, have fallen into the hands of the Taliban once again.

We, as Afghans in the diaspora, have tremendous fears for our people in Afghanistan. Namely, the Hazara population, who have a dark history of persecution by the Taliban, as demonstrated by their brutal treatment and perpetuation of massacres on the Hazara people during their 1990s regime. The return of the Taliban will be catastrophic for Afghanistan, resulting in mass violations of the rights and lives of women and girls, and the ethnic cleansing and genocide of Hazaras.

Australia has invested enormously in the development of Afghanistan over the last two decades. We have lost 41 soldiers, contributed to educational advancements, the growth of civil society, and propelled progress for women, girls, and religious minorities in various ways. Australia closed its embassy in Kabul and rescued its staff before the takeover by the Taliban, meaning the lives of all Australian citizens who were in Afghanistan are not at risk. Nonetheless, Australia cannot turn away from helping the people of Afghanistan during this very difficult time. Australia has the influence, capability, and resources to help Afghans in this time of urgent need.

First, in Australia, currently, Afghan refugees make up roughly one quarter of refugees on Temporary Protection and Safe Haven Enterprise visas, many of whom are Hazaras. These people are living in our community and have been in Australia for more than 8 years. Due to the nature of their visas, they are required to re-apply for another temporary visa every three-to-five years. This means they have been living life in limbo with uncertainty and family separation, having been away from their families and loved ones for many years without any hope of being able to settle in Australia. Some have been living in destitution, and several of them have committed suicide due to the punitive policies of the Australian Government.

Afghan refugees, and those on temporary visas cannot go back in the foreseeable future, while the Taliban strengthens its grip on power. If they are sent back, they will face death. The Australian Government must alleviate the long suffering of Afghan refugees in our communities, particularly at this sensitive and terrible time, as many fear for the welfare and safety of their loved ones back in Afghanistan. The Morrison Government should immediately grant all Afghan refugee temporary visa holders permanent protection.

Second, the Australian Government needs to facilitate family reunification opportunities for Afghans in Australia who have family members in Afghanistan. This can be done by allowing Afghan refugees who have previously not been able to apply for partner or family visas from Afghanistan, to be able to do so now. Those with Afghan links and families in western nations, such as Australia, are at risk of being harmed by the Taliban.

For this reason, we must address the needs of Afghan refugees who have immediate family members in Afghanistan, to have that window of opportunity opened to them, so they can apply for humanitarian or other visas for their loved ones to be brought to safety.

Finally, in addition to helping Afghan refugees in Australia, the Australian Government must provide protection to those in Afghanistan who are in urgent need through resettlement. If not, they will face beatings, human rights violations, and death at the hands of the Taliban. Given the urgency of the situation in Afghanistan, Canada has moved quickly and already established a resettlement program of an additional 20,000 humanitarian visas to resettle women leaders, journalists and human rights activists. The UK joined Canada in establishing a new scheme which will enable up to 20,000 Afghans a safe pathway out of Afghanistan to set up their lives in the UK over the next five years.

Australia has decades of experience in offering special visa schemes to asylum seekers and refugees in circumstances such as this. In the seven years following the fall of Saigon, Australia accepted about 60,000 Vietnamese refugees. In 2015, the Australian Government created a special scheme for an additional 12,000 humanitarian visas for Syrians.

What will Scott Morrison’s legacy be after the fall of Kabul? He could begin today by helping the Afghan refugees here in Australia by granting them permanent protection as well as enabling a safe passage out of Afghanistan for those in urgent need of protection, like many of their families. This process will enable Afghans at high risk of persecution or other serious harm by the Taliban to enter Australia for protection.

The Australian public must stand with the Afghan diaspora and raise their voices to push for the government to act immediately. Words are not enough anymore. Australia can and must act on the points outlined above. Australia must not abandon the people of Afghanistan. Otherwise, history will not forgive us.

Sitarah Mohammadi is the deputy chair of the Asia Pacific Refugee Rights Network. In 2019, she was a Provost Scholar at the University of Oxford. She has a BA in International Relations and Human Rights from Monash University and is currently undertaking her Juris Doctorate at Monash Law School. She tweets @sitarah_m

Sajjad Askary is a former Hazara refugee from Afghanistan. He is the deputy chair of the Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific Committee at the Asia Pacific Refugee Rights Network. He is also a BA graduate in International Relations and completing his Juris Doctorate at Monash Law School. He tweets @AskarySajjad

Both Sitarah and Sajjad are regular contributors for Guardian Australia.