At Hastings’ vigil for refugees, Cllr Maya Evans reflects on the plight of people in Afghanistan

120 people gathered at Hastings beach to mark the deaths of six refugees at sea last weekend.

Speakers expressed anger at the government’s policy which promotes such tragedies as a deterrent to Channel crossings.

The gathering ended with a call for a mass anti-racist movement to challenge the scapegoating of refugees.

I was personally reminded of the young Afghan peace activists I met during my regular trips to Kabul between 2011 and 2019. None of them are eligible for resettlement in the UK despite their lives being in danger due to publicly speaking out against the Taliban.

Britain has invaded Afghanistan four times in 200 years. The last time, 2001-2021, promised to topple the Taliban. Sadly Operation Enduring Freedom used extreme violence, often against civilians, so failed to win hearts and minds.

Last night, one of my Afghan friends, now resettled in Germany, wrote this:

“Today two years ago (15^th August 2021)was the first time in my life when I felt homeless. My country was handed to a terrorist group by the international community. It was the most traumatizing and hopeless day of my life. Not only my life but lives of millions of Afghans changed afterwards and since then I am a totally different human being.

“I hope one day I can go back to my country and chill with my mom in the home and outside the home and drink some nice tea, eat simple food, walk around and talk to people, be in peace and feel at home. I believe that day will come one day. I won’t stop fighting until it comes.

“Since the Taliban came to power

1: Girls cannot go school.

2: They cannot go to university to study.

3: Women are not allowed to work.

4: In parts of Afghanistan and even in Kabul women were forced to marry members of the Taliban.

5: Many female activists were kidnapped and tortured by the Taliban.

6: Since the Taliban took power they have attacked members of the Hazara ethnic group not only torturing us but also killing many of us, which shows their genocidal goal towards our rich and beloved Hazara ethnic group.

7: Human rights advocates are not allowed to speak up. If they do, they are being abducted.

8: Activists, members of civil society and educators who raise their voices for girls’ education are not just kidnapped by the terrorist Taliban but also physically and mentally tortured by them.

9: Media are completely controlled by the Taliban.

10: Many members of the previous government such as soldiers,  police and ordinary previous governmental workers who worked in different ministries were either killed or beaten so badly by the Taliban in the different province of Afghanistan.

“I am hopeful that one day the root of these tyrants will be uprooted and the sun will rise again. I painted this peace symbol on my blouse for this reason.”

Maya Evans is Deputy Leader of Hastings Borough Council