Unknown Armed Assailants Kill Six, Including Two Clerics, in Attack in Afghanistan’s Herat Province

Unknown armed assailants carried out an attack in the Jibril district of Afghanistan’s Herat province, resulting in the death of six people, including two clerics. The attack occurred on Friday when the victims were returning from a memorial ceremony for a Hazara priest in Anjil Herat’s Khoshroud district.

The incident took place at around 2 p.m., approximately 10 kilometers from the city center, near the Shaheedan and Kuh-e Melli neighborhoods in Herat’s Jibril district. The targeted clerics were identified as Mohammad Taqi Sadeghi and Mohammad Mohsen Hamidi, who were attending a memorial ceremony in Herat at the time of the attack.

This attack is part of a disturbing trend in the region, as at least four Hazara clerics or religious leaders have been assassinated in Herat within the last month and a half. The UN Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights in Afghanistan has expressed concern over the growing human rights violations by the Taliban, particularly targeting the Hazara group.

Richard Bent, the UN official, has called for an independent investigation into the incident and the punishment of the culprits according to international principles. Despite the Taliban’s promises regarding security, concerns over security are mounting, especially for the Hazara community.

The persecution of the Afghan Shia Hazara community has a long history, but it has reached unprecedented levels under the Taliban’s control. The targeting of Hazara places of worship, schools, and other public areas has intensified since the Taliban regained power in August 2021.

The international community remains deeply concerned about the deteriorating human rights situation in Afghanistan. It is crucial for authorities to address these security concerns and ensure the protection of all religious and ethnic groups in the country. An impartial investigation into the recent attacks and the prosecution of those responsible will be essential in restoring peace and stability to Afghanistan.