The Afghan community in Lethbridge stands with victims controlled by the Taliban-Lethbridge

As the situation in Afghanistan deteriorates every moment, family members in Canadian territory say they have been trying to find a way to change the status quo, but they have received little support.

To raise awareness at the local level, a rally in solidarity with the victims of Taliban control was held on the steps of Lethbridge City Hall on Monday night.

“My parents escaped from this situation 20 years ago, and we came back here again, doing the same thing and making history repeat itself,” Hotira Balkhy said.

Law students organized this gathering to show support and share messages condemning the Taliban.

“Our religion is a religion of peace, love and unity; what they portray is not like that. Our religion respects women the most; what they portray is not like that at all,” she said.

Balkhy said that although the Afghan community in Lethbridge is small, it is also keen to seek assistance.

For many people at City Hall on Monday, the crisis may be physically remote, but it hit itself on multiple levels.

A Global News woman who remains anonymous to protect the safety of her family members still in Afghanistan said that she has been worried about them.

“When I talked to my family, they told me they were out, and I shudder because of it. I don’t want them to go out. I don’t want them to do anything,” she said.

The woman said that she remembered how terrible the situation was when her family lived in Afghanistan in the late 1990s when she was a child.

“I know the horror. I know how it feels to be there. I can imagine people walking down the street with guns and walking all over the city.”

She said that as the Canadian federal election approaches, she hopes to see the emergency in Afghanistan be considered a priority by the candidates.

“We want our problems and our crisis to appear on the agenda of this year’s Canadian election. We want our leaders to really pay attention,” she said.

Speakers on Monday outlined three things they hope to happen on Canadian soil, including the further expansion of the resettlement program in Afghanistan, immediate provision of humanitarian assistance and the participation of leaders in fruitful diplomacy.