The Harmful Rhetoric and Political Game Against Refugees and People Seeking Asylum Must Stop
By Zaki Haidari, Refugee Rights Campaigner, Amnesty International Australia
Every day, I wonder, when will the attacks on me, my fellow refugees, and those seeking protection stop? Will they ever stop?
Zaki Haidari
I was forced to flee my home in Afghanistan back in 2011 after the Taliban threatened my family’s lives. I made it to Australia, but for years, I lived in limbo, trapped on temporary visas, unable to reunite with my family. After a decade of relentless campaigning, I helped abolish temporary visas, finally securing permanent residency and the right to bring my family to safety. But many refugees in Australia are still waiting, many remaining indefinitely separated from their loved ones.
In my 13 years in Australia, I have been embraced by everyday Australians —a kindness I will cherish forever. Yet, for just as long, politicians have weaponised our lives, demonising us with dangerous rhetoric and cruel policies. Seeking votes, they introduce laws designed to break us, keep families apart, and make it near impossible for people in danger to find safety. These policies are not just cruel and inhumane, they violate Australia’s international legal obligations.
I have lost too many good friends to this cruelty. And I ask myself: Will these politicians ever find their humanity? Will they ever treat us as human beings, not just pawns in their political games?
Words matter
Almost daily, we are vilified—scapegoated in the media, dehumanised in Parliament. The words politicians use shape public perception, influence policy, and impact real lives. When elected officials appear on national television and call us “illegal asylum seekers,” they are not just lying—they are fuelling fear and division. No human being is ‘illegal’, and seeking safety is not a crime; it is a fundamental human right.
Australia is a signatory to the 1951 Refugee Convention, which guarantees the right to seek asylum. International law is clear: no person is “illegal” for seeking protection. Yet, time and again, political leaders exploit these terms to mislead the public and justify harsher policies. This is a deliberate attempt to strip away our humanity.
People do not flee their homes and risk their lives on dangerous journeys for no reason. They do so because their survival depends on it. Australia, a country built by migrants, has a moral and legal duty to protect the persecuted—not vilify them.
This rhetoric is not just misleading—it has real consequences. It fosters discrimination, fuels hate and isolates entire communities. Refugees, people seeking asylum, and multicultural communities across Australia bear the brunt of this dehumanisation. It makes it harder for us to rebuild our lives, find safety, and contribute to a country we now call home.
Seeking safety is not a crime, it is a fundamental human right.
Zaki Haidari
Lessons from the past
Many of us are now permanent residents or citizens, yet we are still branded as “illegal” by some political figures. We have built lives here, we have given back, yet we are told we do not belong. Why must we be condemned to live without our families? How long must we keep running from persecution? If Australia will not give us true safety, where else can we go? Our home countries remain unsafe. For many, returning would be a death sentence.
Australians believe in fairness and family. We must learn from our history. Keeping families apart does not make Australia stronger—it repeats the mistakes of the past.
A call for compassion
How much longer must we be kept apart? A lifetime? Are we expected to simply accept that we may never see our families again?
Our leaders must use language that upholds the dignity of those seeking asylum. Instead of peddling fear, they should focus on real solutions—creating fair and efficient asylum processes, supporting new arrivals, and ensuring Australia remains a place of refuge.
Demonising refugees does not make Australia safer. But embracing compassion, respecting human rights, and honouring our international obligations does.
It is time for politicians to stop using refugees as a political punching bag. Australia must stand for justice and dignity—for all.
Amnesty International is a global movement of more than 10 million people who take injustice personally. We are campaigning for a world where human rights are enjoyed by all – and we can only do it with your support.
Act now or learn more about our Refugee Rights work.
