Recognize Hazara genocide
Petitioners ask Canada to recognize the 1891–1893 ethnic cleansing of Hazaras as genocide, designate September 25 Hazara Genocide Memorial Day, and support Bill C‑287 to ensure Canadian aid to Afghanistan promotes peace for all. The government responds that it condemns attacks, monitors abuses, provides humanitarian aid and resettlement, and will keep advocating internationally.
Why we would sign this petition
- Official recognition and a memorial day would acknowledge historical atrocities, honor Hazara victims, and raise public awareness.
- Backing Bill C‑287 would direct Canadian development aid toward peace and inclusive security, potentially improving protection for all communities.
- The petition would reinforce Canada’s humanitarian commitments and publicly signal support for persecuted minorities, complementing ongoing aid and resettlement efforts.
Why we wouldn’t sign this petition
- Formal genocide recognition can carry diplomatic costs, potentially complicating relations with Afghan authorities or other states and limiting foreign‑policy options.
- Classifying historical events as genocide may require complex legal and evidentiary review; premature recognition could be legally contested.
- Mandating aid conditions via Bill C‑287 could complicate delivery, add administrative burdens, or reduce flexibility to respond rapidly to humanitarian needs.
The summary and both sets of reasons are AI-generated from the petition and given equal weight. Claims are the petitioners’ own; consult the official record for the full text.
Official petition
Petition to the House of Commons of Canada We, the undersigned citizens of Canada, draw the attention of the House of Commons of Canada to the following: Whereas, Abdul Rahman Khan the Amir of Afghanistan, who was installed by the British government and received a subsidy from them, waged a genocidal campaign against the Hazaras from 1891 to 1893, wiping out the vast majority of this ethnic group; Whereas, tens of thousands of Hazaras were forcefully displaced from their lands while many other thousands were forcefully proselytized (from Shia to Sunni), raped and enslaved from 1891-1893; Whereas, in August 1998 hundreds if not thousands of Hazara men, women, children and elders were slaughtered in the cities of Mazar-e-Sharif and Bamiyan; Whereas, the Hazaras continue to face systemic and targeted persecution in post-2001 Afghanistan, such as the killings of newborn infants in Dasht-e-Barchi`s maternity ward in May 2020 or the targeted attacks in Behsud (Maidan Wardak province), Jibrail (Herat) and Jalalabad (Nangarhar) from January to March of 2021; Whereas, Canada has expended $3.6 billion in assistance to Afghanistan and lost 158 brave men and women in uniform in the fight against the Taliban; Whereas, Afghanistan remains one of the largest recipients of Canada's international financial assistance; Therefore we, the undersigned, call upon the Government of Canada to take the following actions: 1. Formally recognize the 1891-1893 ethnic cleansing perpetrated against the Hazaras as a Genocide. 2. To designate September 25th as Hazara Genocide Memorial Day. 3. Support Bill C-287 to ensure that all development assistance sent from Canada to Afghanistan is contributing to the peace and security of the region for all peoples.
Government response
Response by the Minister of Foreign Affairs Signed by Rob Oliphant Canada has consistently expressed deep concern about the situation of ethnic and religious minorities in Afghanistan and continues to call for the full inclusion of all Afghans into every aspect of society, regardless of ethnicity, religion, or gender. Alongside our international allies, Canada continues to call upon all states to adhere to their obligations under international human rights law, including the rights of women, girls, and minority groups. Canada has also consistently called on the de facto Taliban authorities to respect Afghanistan’s international commitments, including protecting the fundamental rights of all Afghans. Canada believes that ethnic and religious groups must be represented at all levels of Afghan government and society in order to help address the underlying problems facing the country, the root causes of discrimination, and the enduring legacy left by decades of conflict. The Government of Canada has no intention of recognizing the Taliban as the government of Afghanistan. Ethnic and religious groups in Afghanistan have suffered significantly from the past four decades of conflict. Canada closely monitors human rights abuses against ethnic and religious minorities in Afghanistan and Canada has publicly condemned attacks against the Hazara community in Afghanistan, including on April 19, 2022, against Hazara students in Kabul and on September 30, 2022, at the Kaaj education center in Kabul that killed more than 50 people, mostly Hazara girls studying for exams. As recently as September 12, 2024, 14 Hazaras were killed returning home from visiting shrines in Iraq. Attacks such as this are reprehensible, and remind all of the persecution, discrimination, and targeted attacks that ethnic and religious minorities, in particular the Hazara community, face in Afghanistan at the hands of armed groups. Canada will continue to work closely with trusted Afghan partners on the ground and international partners to bring attention to the persecution of ethnic and religious minorities in Afghanistan and to advocate for the meaningful inclusion of marginalized groups, including the Hazara community, in every sphere of the Afghan society, as their participation is crucial to ensuring a sustainable peace. Canada has been vocal in championing a strong human rights mandate for the United Nation Assistance Mission in Afghanistan and supports the work of Richard Bennett as the United Nation Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights in Afghanistan. Canada remains committed to supporting the Afghan people, particularly women and girls. In 2025, Canada provided nearly $40 million in humanitarian assistance to deliver essential food aid, health services, emergency shelter, and protection services. This includes $3 million in emergency funding in response to the 2025 earthquake in eastern Afghanistan. Since 2021, Canada has contributed over $290 million in humanitarian assistance to support vulnerable Afghans. Canada has a proud history of helping the world’s most vulnerable, including a longstanding commitment to the people of Afghanistan. That is why in June 2023, the Government of Canada passed legislation to facilitate humanitarian aid in Afghanistan and other geographic areas controlled by terrorist groups. Bill C-41 made important changes to the Criminal Code to allow desperately needed aid to be delivered by Canadian organizations to the people of Afghanistan. These changes to the Criminal Code support Canada’s deep commitment to the people of Afghanistan, while upholding our domestic and international obligations to combat terrorism. Canada has also resettled over 59,000 vulnerable Afghan nationals to Canada through special immigration programs - one of the largest commitments in the world. These programs focused on vulnerable Afghans, including women leaders, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer people, human rights defenders, journalists, and members of religious and ethnic minorities, including Hazaras. Thanks to these efforts, Canada has already welcomed many Hazaras to Canada.