RASC News Agency: Reliable sources from Herat report that Taliban forces killed a young Shia man on Friday, 21 Cancer, in Jabriil town of this province. The young man was killed amid escalating tensions between the Taliban and Afghanistan’s Shia community over Ashura rituals. Taliban restrictions on these ceremonies directly contributed to his death.
Local sources identify the victim as Habib, who had clashed with Taliban members the previous day in protest against the imposed limitations on mourners in Herat. Sources indicate that Habib was under 25 years old and a resident of Seydabad Jabriil. Previously, he had received threats from the Taliban. Reports state that he had confronted the Taliban twice to prevent them from obstructing mourners’ access to the “Black Dome,” located between his home and the town, leading to heated disputes.
As of now, the Taliban has not issued an official statement regarding this incident. Local residents later visited the scene of the murder and removed CCTV footage from nearby buildings. In recent days, tensions between the Shia community in Kabul and Herat and the Taliban have intensified over Ashura observances.
Over the past week, the Taliban has repeatedly raided Jabriil town, tearing down Ashura flags and symbols from homes and shops. Videos from Herat province show Taliban forces removing Ashura symbols from Shia neighborhoods. Previously, Taliban restrictions on Ashura ceremonies had also provoked public outrage in several areas of Kabul.
Ahmadullah Mateqi, the Taliban’s head of information and culture in Herat, referred to mourning ceremonies as “foreign and politically motivated innovations,” insisting they must be curtailed. Local sources further report that in recent days, the Taliban has detained seven protesters opposing the restrictions on mourning ceremonies in Jabriil town. Current information regarding the fate of these detainees remains unavailable.
