Attack on Herat worshipers; UNAMA called for immediate measures to protect the Shia community in Afghanistan

30 Apr 2024
2 Minutes
Attack on Herat worshipers; UNAMA called for immediate measures to protect the Shia community in Afghanistan

The Office of the United Nations Deputy Mission in Afghanistan has condemned the attack on worshipers in Herat province and has called for immediate measures to protect Shiites in the country.

The Office of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) today (Tuesday, 30 April) condemned the attack on the worshipers in Herat province on its page X and demanded immediate measures from the Taliban to protect the Shia community in the country.

UNAMA wrote: “Investigations and accountability for the perpetrators and protective measures for the Afghan Shia community are urgently needed.”

In this regard, Richard Bennett, the UN Special Rapporteur on Afghanistan, condemned the attack on Shia worshipers in Herat and emphasized that all Afghans should be able to worship in a peaceful atmosphere.

Mr. Bennett added: “I condemn last night’s killing of Hazara Shia worshipers in a mosque in Herat Pass. “All Afghans should be able to worship in a peaceful atmosphere.”

He demanded from the Taliban group to prevent attacks, protection and justice for Shiites in Afghanistan.

On the other hand, the European Union’s Chargé d’affaires for Afghanistan, Rafaela Ayodis, has said that the European Union strongly condemns this attack and all acts of violence in response to last night’s attack on the Imam Zaman Mosque in Guzrah district of Herat province.

Mrs. Ayodis said that last night’s attack was very sad and emphasized that the Shiite community in Afghanistan should be protected.

Turkish and Iranian embassies in Kabul have condemned the attack on Shia worshipers in Herat and said that they condemn any type of terrorism.

The Turkish embassy has written in its X that this incident has caused the death of “innocent civilians” and the caretaker government of Afghanistan should arrest and punish the perpetrators of this incident.

The Iranian embassy in Kabul called the attack on the worshipers a terrorist incident and said that Iran is ready to strengthen cooperation with the caretaker government of Afghanistan in the fight against terrorism.

The announcement of this embassy states that Iran wants to identify and punish the perpetrators of this crime.

In this regard, Abdul Matin Qane, the spokesperson of the Ministry of Interior of the Taliban group, wrote in X today that as a result of an armed attack on worshipers in Herat province, six people were killed and another person was injured.

Mr. Qane added that two unknown gunmen with Kalashnikovs fired at the worshipers in the Imam Zaman Mosque in Andisheh town of Gozrah district of Herat province.

So far, no individual or group has taken responsibility for this event.

This is despite the fact that last evening two unknown people shot at the worshipers during Maghrib and Isha prayers in Imam Zaman Mosque in Andisheh town of Gozrah district of Herat province and as a result more than ten people were injured and killed, among the dead women and Children are also included.