More than 300 people at Victoria Square in solidarity with Afghans on home soil and Kabul

Side-by-side, more than 350 South Australians stood in solidarity with Afghanistan on Saturday night at Victoria Square.

More than 350 South Australians gathered for a candlelight vigil for Afghanistan in Victoria Square last night – many calling for a generous Australian response to the unfolding humanitarian crisis.

Hussain Razaiat, member of the SA Multicultural and Ethnic Affairs Commission, said Australia must not let Afghanistan down following the Taliban’s shocking takeover of Kabul less than a week ago.

“As proud citizens of Australia, we are expecting the Australian Government not to let Afghan people down and be persecuted again and again by the Taliban,” Mr Razaiat said.

Two young children hold a candles at the candle light vigil, held to show solidarity with the people of Afghanistan in Victoria Square, Adelaide, SA. Picture: Emma Brasier

SA Premier Steven Marshall promised the gathering that the state was ready to assist with the repatriation of people from Afghanistan as soon as the Commonwealth asked for SA’s help. More repatriated flights are expected to land in Australia this week.

Mr Marshall said the state government had also asked the Commonwealth to increase SA’s humanitarian quota for the expected arrival of many displaced Afghans.

“Many of us have watched in horror the images coming out from Kabul … Images of despair and desperation,” he said.

South Australian Premier Steven Marshall speaks at the candle light vigil, held to show solidarity with the people of Afghanistan in Victoria Square, Adelaide, SA. Picture: Emma Brasier

Afghan vigil in Victoria Square – Reihaneh Rezai, 27, northern suburbs; Isabella Duns, 22, southern suburbs; Ghasem Naimi, 25, northern suburbs; Masoud Teymouri, 28, northern suburbs. Picture: Rebecca Digirolamo

(L-R) Shakiba, Hayla, Nelo and Nooria at the candle light vigil, held to show solidarity with the people of Afghanistan in Victoria Square, Adelaide, SA. Picture: Emma Brasier

Opposition leader Peter Malinauskas said it was time for Australia to call on its extraordinary tradition of helping those in need. He said Australia must accept more Afghans into the country, make the more than 4000 living here on temporary visas permanent residents and quickly reunite families torn apart by the new crisis.

At the vigil, organised by the Middle Eastern Communities Council, were friends Reihaneh Rezai, 27, and Isabella Dubs, 22.

“I was born in Afghanistan but have lived in Australia all my life – this is the smallest step I can make to raise awareness for my people,” said Ms Rezai, from Adelaide’s northern suburbs. She attended the vigil with Ms Dubs, from Adelaide’s southern suburbs, carrying artwork of an Afghan woman covered in a burqa.

Masoud Teymouri, 27, who has family in Afghanistan said: “Im here to raise my voice and show my support for my people – this is the only thing we can do at the moment.”