A candlight vigil after bombing
Palmerston North’s Afghan community has held a vigil in tribute to the victims of Saturday’s bombings in Kabul.
Their candlelight vigil at the foot of the war memorial in The Square brought together 150 Afghans, Kiwis and Muslims to mourn the victims of Afghanistan’s deadliest attack in 15 years. Isis has claimed responsibility for the bombing of a peaceful protest of hundreds of ethnic Hazaras, who were marching for a major regional power line to be routed through their home province in Kabul.
The Afghanistan Interior Ministry said more than 80 people were killed and 231 wounded, making it among the deadliest single incidents since the Taliban was driven from power in 2001.
Asadullah Rezaie moved to Palmerston North with his family three years ago after working as a translator for the New Zealand Defence Force.
He said the community had come out in support of the Hazaras, who faced discrimination and injustice, the families of the victims, and each other.
They all have family back in Afghanistan, and it was difficult every time they heard news of an attack, Rezaie said.
‘‘We’re always worried about our families. Every morning it’s my job to check the news to see what’s happening in Afghanistan.
‘‘It was Sunday when we heard about the attack. I’m originally from the Bamiyan Province but I have two sisters in Kabul. I called my family immediately and fortunately, they were all right.’’
Palmerston North Afghan Community Committee member Hussain Sayed organised the vigil both as a tribute to the victims of the attack, and a continuation of their protest.
Similar vigils were held in Auckland, Hamilton, Christchurch and Wellington. Sayed said many vigil organisers around the world were taking up the Hazaras’ cause.
‘‘They thought the government was deliberately denying power to the Hazaras minority, so they protested in a peaceful exercise of their rights.
‘‘That is democracy, but unfortunately there was a terrorist attack.’’
Sayed said they were calling on their new government to support stability in Afghanistan and pay attention to the rights of minorities.
‘‘We want New Zealand to continue its engagement with Afghanistan. Our troops have pulled out but there’s still relationships to be built there.’’
They hoped the international community wouldn’t repeat the mistake of forgetting Afghanistan like they did after the Soviet invasion in the 1980s.
Sayed said without international support Afghanistan’s fledgling democracy was at risk.