Afghans rally in front of UN office in Bishkek

KABUL (Pajhwok): Afghan refugees have rallied in front of the UN House in Bishkek, demanding resettlement in Western Europe, the US and Canada.

Muhammad Zamzam, one of the protestors, said they had been living in Kyrgyzstan for 20 years, but had not been granted citizenship yet.

A Bishkek-based news site quoted him as saying: “We are constantly denied (citizenship) and asked to wait. But we cannot live normally without documents.”

Zamzam complained he could neither work nor send his children to schools. We have the same rights as everyone else and want to live as free people.”

The demonstrator added: “If Kyrgyzstan does not need us, send us to third countries,”

In August 2021, the Afghans staged a wave of protests near the US embassy and the UN House in Bishkek.

The protestors said they should either be given the citizenship of Kyrgyzstan, or redirected to another country.

PAN Monitor/mud