Australian Greens Call for Recognition of Hazara Persecution as Genocide

The Australian Greens Party has endorsed calls to recognize the systematic persecution of Afghanistan’s Hazara people under Taliban rule as genocide, Afghanistan International reported. In a statement on April 23, the party condemned escalating rights violations against the ethnic minority since the Taliban’s 2021 takeover and urged the federal government to protect Hazara refugees in Australia, including halting deportations to Afghanistan.

With Australia’s federal election set for May 3, the Greens proposed raising the annual humanitarian refugee intake to 50,000 and lifting the ban on processing refugees from Indonesia, where thousands of stranded Afghan asylum seekers await resettlement. The party emphasized obligations under the UN Genocide Convention, demanding action to prevent atrocities and support international investigations.

“Australia must treat those seeking safety with dignity,” the Greens stated, pledging to amplify Hazara voices in Parliament. They warned that global inaction risks worsening the crisis, citing reports of targeted killings and forced displacement of Hazaras.

The Greens’ motion aligns with advocacy by Hazara diaspora groups and human rights organizations documenting Taliban abuses, including restrictions on education and employment. Australia hosts one of the largest Hazara communities outside Afghanistan, with many fleeing decades of sectarian violence.

The party vowed to prioritize the issue in the 48th Parliament, framing genocide recognition as a moral and legal imperative.