| AUSTRALIA | SEPTEMBER 12, 2025 |

Hazara Leader Unites Voices for Change

Bashir Fayaq, a former child refugee who fled Taliban violence in Afghanistan, is now a leading voice for human rights in Australia.

Bashier Fayaq human rights summit — Bashir Fayaq speaking at the International Human Rights Summit at the UN Headquarters, New York.

As executive director of the Federation of Hazara Councils of Australia, Bashir Fayaq is spearheading efforts to unify and empower the country’s Hazara population—now the largest Hazara diaspora in the Western world.

Fayaq’s journey began at age 12, when his parents were killed by the Taliban for their support of democracy. He was only 13 when he escaped from Afghanistan alone. After two years in Australia’s Christmas Island detention center, he arrived in Australia, where he has dedicated his life to human rights.

Today, Fayaq leads the Federation of Hazara Councils of Australia, a national network representing more than 70 Hazara groups comprising some 70,000 individuals. Fayaq launched the federation at Parliament House on February 27, 2024. The federation serves as a central voice for Australia’s Hazara community—a population often underrepresented despite its growing presence.

“Our community has endured unimaginable persecution,” said Fayaq. “But through unity and education, we are building something powerful. Hazara leaders are giving voice to human rights awareness, not just for our people, but for all those facing injustice.”

Fayaq has long been an advocate for refugees and human rights. While still in his teens, he addressed the United Nations in Geneva and served on an inquiry panel for the Australian Human Rights Commission. He holds a master’s degree in diplomacy and won the 2024 ABC Canberra Community Spirit Award.

human rights booklets — A young Hazara woman shares a human rights booklet with a community member as part of the federation’s growing grass-roots movement to empower through education and awareness.

Under his leadership, the federation has partnered with United for Human Rights since 2024, integrating its educational materials into refugee support services, youth programs and cultural events. In July 2024, he represented his native country, Afghanistan, at the 18th International Human Rights Summit in New York.

In less than two years, the federation has reached more than 100,000 individuals across the country. Members of the federation also co-founded the Friends of Hazara group in the Australian Parliament, which has helped bring about faster citizenship processing and greater visibility for Hazara concerns in national policy.

“We’re not just survivors,” said Fayaq. “We are leaders, educators and citizens who contribute to a better, more compassionate Australia—and a better world.”

About the Federation of Hazara Councils of Australia

The Federation of Hazara Councils of Australia is a national organization dedicated to uniting and empowering the Hazara community across Australia. Officially launched on February 27, 2024, the federation advocates for human rights, cultural preservation and social justice for one of the largest Hazara diasporas in the world. For more information, visit hazaracouncil.org.au.

About United for Human Rights

United for Human Rights is an international nonprofit organization focused on educating individuals about the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Through outreach and educational programs, United for Human Rights empowers communities worldwide to understand and uphold their fundamental human rights. The Church of Scientology and Scientologists support United for Human Rights. The program was inspired by humanitarian and Scientology Founder L. Ron Hubbard, who believed that “human rights must be made a fact, not an idealistic dream.”