By Halima Bahman

Addictions counsellor and volunteer with the Hazara Women’s Organization, a group she co-founded in 2020.

The recent developments in Afghanistan have filled the airwaves with scenes that are both depressing and shocking. And while the Taliban extremists who have taken over the country make occasional claims to moderation, let’s be clear: dark times are coming for the women, cultural groups, artists, and activists who have been caught in the death trap of the new regime.

 For those of us who survived earlier times of violence and persecution in Afghanistan, the latest events bring on terrible memories – and fresh fears for the future. Two decades ago, I was living in the same state of terror that many girls are facing today. When the Taliban invaded Mazar-e-Sharif, they waged a campaign of genocide against the Hazaras, the ethnic group to which I belong.

 When these brutal men arrived with their long guns and beards, one of their first actions was to shut down and burn the schools and universities that accepted women. At a stroke, they shattered the proud culture of freedom and opportunity for women that had been developing in Mazar-e-Sharif for decades. My own dream of becoming an engineer went up in smoke. At least I managed to survive. Others – friends of mine – were not so lucky.

And now history repeats itself. Recently, in response to the blitzkrieg takeover of Afghanistan by Taliban troops, Ottawa announced a new resettlement, whereby 20,000 Afghans who are especially vulnerable, as females, activists, LGBTQ+ folk, and others, will be given an expedited passage to this country. 

Conspicuously absent from the list of vulnerable priority groups, however, were the Hazaras. (Thanks to some lobbying efforts, that omission has been subsequently corrected). As was pointed out in a CTV news interview with Ali Mirzad, senior advisor to Canadian Hazara Humanitarian Services, Hazaras are the victims in a staggering 80 percent of attacks in Afghanistan. By those numbers alone, they deserve special attention. 

 Who are the Hazaras?

We are a majority Shia ethnic group who speak a dialect of the Persian language, and have a unique history and set of cultural values, including a respect for education and the place of women in society. These values help explain our success in countries like Canada. In Afghanistan, however, those same values make them a target for harbouring ‘western’ or ‘foreign’ values. Also making us a target are our Asian facial features, which make it impossible for us to ‘pass’ as anything other than what we are. 

At a young age, each Hazara child learns that his or her very life is precarious and subject to the whims of those who hate them for merely existing. And as of last month, those same hateful people are in charge of the entire country. The prisons are opening up, flooding the country with more extremist militants. The prospects for this now-captive population could not be more dire.

As part of my work with the Hazara Women Organization, I am in close contact with many vulnerable women – often single mothers and widows – from the Hazara towns and villages of Bamiyan to those in the capital of Kabul. I fear for these women, as I fear for the many women of all backgrounds in Afghanistan who have spent the past two decades acquiring higher education, playing music and sports, making art, directing movies, engaging in politics and social activism – so much important and beautiful work that will come to nothing under the Taliban regime.

Efforts to facilitate asylum in Canada

These are the people that Canada needs to help. One encouraging sign: the Hazaras were mentioned by name in a roundtable I attended on August 18, which included the Prime Minister, the Minister of Immigration and other key players. 

Yet that good news was followed by a devastating update on the Canadian Immigration website the next day. The new description of the ‘special program’ to bring 20,000 Afghans to Canada clarifies that the program is focused on those lucky enough to make it outside the country. Except for the translators and other military helpers (whom Canada is also largely ignoring), it seems those in Afghanistan are being abandoned to their fates. I shudder to think of what will happen to them.

Whatever Canada decides, I will do my best to continue to support those who need it the most. To that end, my own organization, Hazara Women Organization, is fundraising for the women and children in Afghanistan who are more vulnerable than ever.

And if you are wondering what you can do to make a difference, my fellow volunteer Stephen Watt, the co-founder of Northern Lights Canada (and editor of this piece) suggests you consider our country’s private sponsorship program. There are qualified and deserving refugees from Afghanistan, most of them Hazaras, in countries like Indonesia and Malaysia. There they are kept in a kind of terrible limbo, with no hope of resettlement – unless we step up. You can see their profiles and reach out directly to them through the Hazara Refugee Collective website..

Times of crisis can sometimes motivate actions that we should have taken long ago. Let’s hope this is one of those occasions.