Kabul [Afghanistan]: Hundreds of Afghan protesters on Monday demonstrated outside the Government House in Canberra, the first day of President Ashraf Ghani’s visit, over Kabul’s discriminatory treatment of Hazaras.
Protesters called on Ghani to end discrimination against the Hazara community and to refuse accepting the repatriation of Afghan refugees in Australia who were rejected by Canberra, reports Tolo News.
According to Australian media reports, the group of protestors demanded Australia and Afghanistan revisit a 2011 deal to send failed Afghan asylum seekers home.
Wahid Akbary, an Afghan refugee living in Australia since 2008, said Taliban militants in Afghanistan were being allowed to kill Hazaras with impunity.
Another protester Barat Ali Batoor said the security situation in Afghanistan for members of the Hazara community was so bad that it would be dangerous if refugees from the community were returned to Afghanistan.
Monday was the first full day of Ghani’s historic tour to Australia – the first such visit ever by an Afghani president.
Ghani is expected to sign economic agreements while in Australia, the first stop in his three nation Asia-Pacific tour.
According to his office, he will meet Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull while in Canberra.
Ghani has already met a number of officials including Australia’s Foreign Minister Julie Bishop. (ANI)