Unknown assailants have carried out a brutal attack on a Shia mosque in northwestern Afghanistan, resulting in the tragic loss of at least seven lives, including that of a child.
The targeted mosque, located in Guzara District of Herat Province, became the scene of horror as two armed men on a motorcycle fired while Shia Muslims were engaged in their prayers.
Reportedly, among the victims of this senseless act of violence is the mosque’s imam, adding to the grievous toll of casualties. Additionally, several others have been reported wounded in the attack.
The Afghan Taliban regime and Herat’s security officials have yet to issue any statements regarding the incident. Moreover, no individual or group has come forward to claim responsibility for the assault, leaving the motives behind the attack shrouded in mystery.
This is not the first instance of such violence targeting the Shia community in Afghanistan. A grim reminder comes from a similar attack in December, where seven people, including two Shia clerics and four women, fell victim to an assault targeting a rickshaw in Herat’s provincial capital.
Shia Muslims constitute a minority in Afghanistan, primarily comprising members of the Hazara community. Despite being the poorest ethnic group in the country, accounting for approximately 22 percent of the population, they have frequently faced persecution and violence. Extremist groups, including the Daesh Takfiri terrorist organization, have been implicated in large-scale kidnappings and killings targeting the Shia community across Afghanistan.
Last year, Afghanistan witnessed another devastating attack on a mosque in the northern city of Mazar-e-Sharif, where a bombing orchestrated by Daesh claimed the lives of at least 31 worshippers and left over 80 others injured.