The Australian government is being urged to offer asylum to Afghan women targeted by the Taliban, as Pakistan moves to expel refugees by the end of the month.
Independent MP Rebekha Sharkie, working with crossbench support from across the parliament, has written to immigration minister Andrew Giles and home affairs minister Clare O’Neil, urging the government to act and bring the women to safety.
The women and their families, including one who is pregnant, fled to Pakistan after the Taliban took back Afghanistan in August 2021. Among them are journalists, academics and prosecutors who had spoken out against the Taliban.
Pakistan has since set a deadline of the end of this year for foreigners without visas, or expired visas, to leave, or face forced deportation or prison. Sharkie said without urgent intervention, the future for the women and their families was bleak.
As Hazara minorities, they have sought humanitarian visas from Australia but Sharkie, who became aware of the women’s plight from a former SBS journalist while part of a delegation in France, said they have faced “significant” delays in processing and are now running out of time.
“This is not alarmist, these women are in grave danger,” Sharkie said.
“They have, in their professional lives as journalists and prosecutors, either been critical of or prosecuted members of the Taliban. This is a group of highly educated professional women – who if returned will be a target.
“I have been working with a network of female journalists in Europe who are deeply concerned for their fellow journalists. I understand our High Commission in Pakistan has been in contact with these women for some time, but time is running out and I beseech the Australian Government to get them to Australia, to safety, immediately.”
In a letter co-signed by the crossbench, which Sharkie said also had the support of other members of parliament, including Liberal party MPs, she urged the Albanese government to act immediately, saying the women and their families had gone “several months without contact or updates”.
“This state of uncertainty leaves Afghan nationals residing in Pakistan in an increasingly dangerous and dire situation,” Sharkie wrote.
“If these women do not receive updates on their visas or an interview request in the next two weeks, they face forcible return to Afghanistan. Their return is expected to be met with considerable retribution on the basis of their gender, professions and public opposition to the Taliban.”
Giles has committed to meeting with Sharkie.
“The government is committed to a generous and flexible humanitarian program that meets Australia’s international protection obligations,” he said.
“Priority in Australia’s offshore Humanitarian Program is given to the most vulnerable applicants who are assessed as refugees by the UNHCR and formally referred to Australia for resettlement, and those proposed by an immediate family member (ie spouses and minor aged children).
“I look forward to speaking with Ms Sharkie on how Australia can continue to fulfil our moral obligation to those affected by the ongoing crisis in Afghanistan.”
In March, the government announced it would provide 31,500 places for Afghan nationals through the humanitarian and family visa programs, including 26,500 places for Afghans who met the humanitarian visa requirements.
Australia, along with allied nations who had entered Afghanistan in 2001 as part of the “war on terror” assisted with the evacuation of 4,168 people out of Kabul over nine days. On the 32 Australian flights were 167 Australian citizens and 2,984 Afghans with approved visas.
The former government came under fire for not facilitating visas quickly enough for Afghans left behind, who were in danger from the Taliban. Australia has not been alone in failing to meet its commitments to Afghans who had previously helped allied nations during the war, with the UK, and the US also struggling to fulfil promises.
The Albanese government has also struggled to process visas, with issues including paperwork, safe routes and various levels of cooperation from surrounding countries adding complications.
Giles said the government was aware of the frustration and fear.
“Since coming to government I have met with Afghan community leaders across the country to listen to their concerns and understandings of what we can do to provide support to those in Afghanistan, in neighbouring countries and for those in Australia who may have loved ones still in Afghanistan.”
