Death – Obituary – Accident and Crime News : Unknown armed assailants carried out an attack in Afghanistan’s Herat province, resulting in the deaths of six individuals, including two clerics. The incident took place in the Jibril district, where the victims were returning from a memorial ceremony for a Hazara priest in Anjil Herat’s Khoshroud district. The attack occurred at around 2 p.m. on Friday, approximately 10 kilometers from the city center, near the Shaheedan and Kuh-e Melli neighborhoods.
The targeted clerics were identified as Mohammad Taqi Sadeghi and Mohammad Mohsen Hamidi. They were attending a memorial ceremony in Herat when they were attacked. This tragic event follows a series of assassinations of Hazara clerics or religious leaders in the region over the past month and a half.
The United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights in Afghanistan has expressed serious concerns about the assassinations of Shia clerics in Herat. The UN official, Richard Bent, has called for an independent investigation into the incident and the punishment of the culprits in accordance with international principles. Despite the Taliban’s assurances regarding security, the Hazara community continues to face increasing security concerns.
The persecution of the Afghan Shia Hazara community has a long history, but it has escalated to unprecedented levels under the Taliban regime. Since the Taliban took control in August 2021, there has been a marked increase in the targeting of Hazara houses of worship, schools, and other public places. This violence has raised alarm within the international community, which is already deeply concerned about the deteriorating human rights situation in Afghanistan.
The incident in Herat highlights the urgent need for action to protect the rights and security of minority communities in Afghanistan. It is crucial that the international community, along with Afghan authorities, address this issue with utmost seriousness and take concrete steps to ensure the safety and well-being of all Afghan citizens. Only through such efforts can Afghanistan achieve lasting peace and stability, where the rights and dignity of all individuals are respected and protected.