Subcommittee on International Human Rights committee  My last word to the chair, to the committee, would be to please consider acknowledging the genocide of the Hazara people. It will change the situation in Afghanistan. It will change the situation of Hazaras outside of Afghanistan, in Pakistan and in neighbouring countries. It will also change the perspectives of other world leaders on the recognition of the Hazara genocide around the globe if Canada recognizes it.

Subcommittee on International Human Rights committee  Absolutely. As a Hazara, I've always been treated differently. It's very obvious. You can feel it. You can see it. You can hear it. With my work at the beginning, when the Taliban fell and the newcomers came to Canada from Afghanistan, I was on the hotel side helping these newcomers.

Subcommittee on International Human Rights committee  Thank you for your question. It's a very important question you have asked me, regarding the Hazara women in Afghanistan at the moment. Hazara girls, like every other girl there right now, are bound to their homes. They cannot go anywhere. Specifically for Hazara girls, it's very much harder, as they're at risk of being kidnapped and raped for their facial features, for the way they dress and for the way they present themselves in society.

Subcommittee on International Human Rights committee  It won't heal all our wounds that we have suffered, but it definitely brings a lot of change if Canada recognizes the genocide of Hazaras in Afghanistan. Once the genocide is recognized, it will give us peace of mind that our voices are heard. When I was a young, little girl, when attacks were happening, even in the news, everything was misinterpreted around the world.

Subcommittee on International Human Rights committee  Currently, the situation of Hazaras is really critical in Afghanistan, especially with the extremist group of the Taliban coming to power. I'm extremely worried about the Hazaras right now, at the moment, especially women and young women. Before, even when there was a government that was supported through the international community, Hazaras were not safe to travel between the smaller cities.

Subcommittee on International Human Rights committee  Mr. Chair and honourable committee members, today I'm very grateful for your time and the opportunity to share my untold experiences as a survivor of many systemic attacks on my people. One day around noon while I was in my classroom in Pakistan, the air darkened and the city was overtaken by an eerie silence.