Tony Zappia (Makin, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

Today marks the 105th anniversary of independence for Afghanistan, as proclaimed by Emir Amanullah Khan in 1919. For Afghanistan, it was a long and very hard-won independence after nearly a century of colonial rule, internal instability and major wars commencing in 1839, 1878 and 1919. Even after independence, their freedom was constantly disrupted, with internal conflicts and later invasions by the USSR in 1979 and the US in 2001. The resilience of the Afghan people has become one of their great strengths. Today over 72,000 Afghans have settled in Australia, where finally they have found the peace and freedom their ancestors longed, fought and died for and which is still being denied to the Afghan people under Taliban rule.

Last Saturday night, I attended the Afghan National Association of Australia's independence day celebration in Adelaide. Afghan leaders at the event spoke of the ongoing oppression of Afghan people, particularly women, under the Taliban rule in their homeland and their concerns for family members who remain stranded overseas. On a more positive note, they spoke of the freedoms and opportunities they have embraced in Australia and their commitments to building a prosperous future for all Australians.

To Australia's Afghan community I say: happy Afghan Independence Day.

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