A group of Afghan citizens living in Toulouse, France, held a protest on Saturday, October 5, condemning what they described as the “killings of Hazaras” in Afghanistan, following the deaths of 14 Hazara civilians in Daikundi province.
The protesters called on the international community to officially recognize the “genocide of Hazaras” in Afghanistan.
The rally was attended by Afghan migrants, a representative from Amnesty International, a delegate from the mayor’s office of Toulouse, civil society activists, and journalists.
In a resolution issued during the protest, the demonstrators referred to the recent shooting of Hazara civilians in Daikundi, which left 14 people dead. They described the incident as part of a broader pattern of violence aimed at eradicating the Hazara community.
On Thursday, September 12, gunmen attacked a vehicle carrying Hazara civilians in Daikundi, an attack the Taliban claimed resulted in 14 deaths. However, ISIS later claimed responsibility, stating that 15 people were killed and six others were wounded in the assault.
The protesters in Toulouse highlighted that since 2002, there have been approximately 300 attacks targeting Hazaras in Afghanistan. They urged the United Nations to take immediate steps to protect the Hazara community and called for the prosecution of those responsible for “genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity” to end the culture of impunity.
The demonstrators also emphasized the urgent need for measures to protect Hazara women and girls, who they said face serious threats due to their “gender, ethnicity, and religion.”
