14/05/2025
Open Letter to the Honorable Prime Minister of
Australia, Mr. Anthony Albanese
Subject: The Plight of Hazara Refugees in Indonesia and the Moral and Legal Responsibility of the Australian Government
Your Excellency,
On the occasion of your official visit to the Republic of Indonesia, we, a group of Afghan citizens, along with civil, cultural, and human rights activists, feel compelled to draw your attention to one of the most urgent and deep-rooted humanitarian crises in the Asia-Pacific region: the prolonged state of limbo faced by thousands of Hazara refugees in Indonesia, some for over a decade.
These Hazara refugees, having fled systematic persecution, ethnic discrimination, and genocidal violence in Afghanistan, have sought safety and protection in Indonesia. However, due to security and migration agreements between Australia and Indonesia, they have been trapped in a state of “permanent transit”—a condition that, in practice, means the denial of basic human rights, including access to employment, education, healthcare, and the opportunity for resettlement.
Prime Minister,
• Australia has long presented itself as a champion of human rights, international justice, and human dignity.
• A portion of the moral and legal responsibility for the situation of these refugees lies directly with the Australian Government, which—through restrictive immigration policies—has effectively blocked all pathways to safe and legal resettlement.
• This continued condition not only violates the core principles of the 1951 Geneva Convention relating to the status of refugees but also contradicts the democratic and humanitarian values that your country proudly upholds.
We respectfully call on you, as a key regional and global leader, to:
• Hear the voices of these forgotten refugees;
• Activate effective mechanisms to expedite the resettlement process, especially for the most vulnerable among them—children, women, the elderly, and those in need of medical care;
• Ensure greater oversight and accountability for the actions of international organizations such as UNHCR and IOM in managing this crisis;
• Urge the Government of Indonesia, in your bilateral discussions, to recognize the basic human rights of these refugees and to provide at least the minimum standards of humane living conditions.
We firmly believe:
Each day of delay is a loss of dignity and hope.
You have the power to make a courageous and humane decision—one that could mark a new chapter in Australia’s legacy of compassion, responsibility, and leadership in refugee protection across the region.
With respect and hope for justice,
On behalf of the persecuted Hazara nation around the world
