Recognize Hazara 1891–1893 Genocide
Petitioners ask Canada to recognize the 1891–1893 ethnic cleansing of Hazaras as genocide, declare Sept. 25 Hazara Genocide Day, and support Bill C-287 to ensure Canadian aid to Afghanistan fosters peace. The government responds that genocide determinations rest with competent courts and that Canadian aid is routed through trusted partners to assist vulnerable populations.
Why we would sign this petition
- Recognition would formally acknowledge historic atrocities and provide symbolic justice and an official memorial framework for survivors and descendants.
- A Sept. 25 memorial day would raise public awareness and education, helping to prevent recurrence through remembrance.
- Supporting Bill C-287 would direct Canadian development aid toward peace and security for all, potentially improving protections for vulnerable communities.
Why we wouldn’t sign this petition
- Determining genocide is a legal finding for competent courts or tribunals; parliamentary recognition could preempt or complicate judicial processes.
- Official recognition and a memorial day could complicate diplomatic relations or aid partnerships, affecting Canada’s ability to influence outcomes on the ground.
- Mandating how development aid is used via Bill C-287 may limit program flexibility and complicate delivery through trusted partners operating in difficult environments.
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 remains firm in its concerns regarding the treatment of ethnic and religious minorities in Afghanistan and continues to advocate for the full inclusion of all Afghans in every sphere of society, regardless of their ethnicity, religion, or gender. Together with international partners, Canada urges all states to uphold their obligations under international human rights law, including the rights of minority communities. Canada also notes the historic and systematic discrimination and prosecution of the Hazara population in Afghanistan, and recalls the tragic events of 1891-1893, as well as those of August 1998. Events such as these should never happen again. The determination of whether a situation constitutes genocide must however be done by a competent international or national court or tribunal, bearing in mind that the legal definition of genocide is precise and complex, as outlined in international treaties such as the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide and the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, to which Canada is a party. With regards to Bill C-287, Canada’s development assistance in Afghanistan is focused on addressing basic human needs and advancing human rights through trusted partners - including Canadian and international Non-Governmental Organizations, United Nations agencies, and multilateral organizations. Working in collaboration with others, our efforts reach all 34 provinces, prioritising both the most vulnerable and remote populations. Canada’s assistance has focused on improving access to health services and supporting education for children and young women, prioritizing both the most vulnerable and hard-to-reach populations, in addition to working to protect and advance the rights of women and girls. The Government of Canada supports the Afghan people and actively raises concerns of human rights violations in Afghanistan. Canada works closely with trusted Afghan 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.