‘The fact that we are Christians put my life and the life [of] my family in serious danger.’ – Ali Zafar, refugee from Afghanistan
Countless people are fleeing the horrors in Afghanistan, where their religious or ethnic identity puts them at risk. Yet even in another country, life isn’t easy. They can’t go home because their lives are in danger there; but in the new country, they can’t work or even access healthcare or housing – and they often still experience harassment and discrimination.
It’s a devastating situation. But with your help, we’re working so that these desperate refugees can finally find a safe place to rest their heads.
Surraya is Shia Hazara, an ethno-religious group that is particularly targeted with violence and brutality by the Taliban. Surraya told us: ‘After the takeover by the Taliban in 2021, the safety and survival of many Afghan nationals became impossible if they were to remain in Afghanistan. This was particularly true for the Hazara ethnic group.
‘The return of the Taliban meant a return of terror for the Hazara people. With all those stories I heard from my friend about how brutal they were, I could not even imagine facing one of them. A huge majority of the Hazara people had to flee Afghanistan to avoid being killed by the Taliban and IS-K.
‘When Kabul fell, we packed our clothes and fled to Pakistan. We had to leave everything behind. Our house, car and all the furniture we had all worked hard to own. We did not have the chance to even sell them.’
Targeting those with the power to make a difference
Earlier this year we commissioned a short film, Leave No One Behind, telling the stories of religious minority refugees from Afghanistan – people like Surraya. We held an exclusive screening of the film in the UK Parliament and asked you to invite your MP to attend. Many of you emailed your MPs, and we are grateful for the turnout at the screening.
As the film played, some MPs were visibly moved by the stories they heard. We gave them our accompanying in-depth report, which contains tailored recommendations for the politicians and decision- makers who read it – including UK MPs – so they know exactly what they need to do.
The following week we held a similar event with civil society organisations in Brussels, and also met with MEPs at the EU. Our multifaceted advocacy targets those who have the power to make a real difference for Afghan refugees.
'Our future remains highly uncertain’
Surraya went on to describe her family’s life now:
‘Here in Pakistan, we are living under extreme hardships. We do not have access to medical treatment, or the means of paying for any medical treatment. The government health facilities request proper documentation, which we lack. We do not have access to schools and universities. We cannot find jobs due to a lack of documentation and language barriers.
‘Our future in Pakistan remains highly uncertain. The government of Pakistan has not given us legal refugee status and the local Islamabad police continuously harass us.’
Extreme hardships
We heard story after story like this as we worked on the film and the report. Time and again, people told us that they had fled Afghanistan in fear of their lives, and now found themselves facing extreme hardships.
These people have done nothing wrong. They deserve to live in peace and safety just as much as anyone else – free to practise a religion or belief of their choice.
Your support is enabling us to keep working towards that future, as we campaign on behalf of religious minorities from Afghanistan – those who were forced to flee, and those who remain and live in fear of the consequences of expressing their beliefs openly. Thank you.
Go to csw.org.uk/AfghanistanHub to find out how you can take action on behalf of faith and belief communities in Afghanistan. Together, we can show them that they haven’t been forgotten.