PROTESTERS gathered in Southampton after dozens of Hazara girls were killed in an Afghanistan school bombing.

Around 50 people took part in a protest at Guildhall Square on Thrusday to stand in solidarity after 35 young Hazara women and girls were killed in a suicide bombing.

No group has claimed responsibility for Friday’s attack, however, witnesses say that women protesting the killings have been beaten and shot by Taliban.

The protest was held in Southampton to raise awareness of the attack against the Hazara community in Afghanistan.

Maryam Atai is the chair of the Hazara Women's Community in Southampton.

She said: "We are here to raise our voice for those girls.

"As a mum, I feel really very sad because I have a girl.

"I can send her to school and she can come back."

"They send their children to school but they pray that their sons or daughters come back from school."

Organiser Habib Ahmadi added: "The Hazara community [in Southampton] all have some family in Afghanistan.

"It's really appalling what is happening there and we are all saddened.

"This tragedy is not the killing of one person, this is a targeted killing of the Hazaras.

"For the last 120 years, there have been target killings and genocides against the Hazara.

" What the world must know is that communities are opposed to the Taliban.

"They want to get rid of education, we have three generations who are educated and they want to get rid of that.

"They want them to be scared so they flee Afghanistan.

"Education in Afghanistan is a primary right, and people will not give up that right."

Ellie Atayee-Bennett was at the protest with her family.

She said: "I think that a lot of people in the West maybe don't know that this is happening.

"It's really important to raise awareness.

"I think it brings the community together, raises awareness and hopefully can prevent it in the future."

A message from the Editor

Thank you for reading this article - we appreciate your support in reading the Daily Echo.

Subscribing to the Echo means you have unrestricted access to the latest news, features and Saints coverage - all with an advertising-light website.

You will also have full access to Saintsplus, your new home for Southampton FC tactical analysis, features and much, much more.

Don't just take my word for it - subscribe today.

Follow the latest breaking news in the Southampton area by searching Southampton News - Breaking News and Incidents on Facebook

Follow the latest court and crime news on our dedicated group by searching Hampshire Court and Crime News on Facebook