RASC News Agency: The recent attack on a Shia mosque in Pul-e-Khumri, Afghanistan has drawn the condemnation of Richard Bennett, the UN Special Rapporteur on human rights for the country. In a statement issued on October 13, Mr. Bennett expressed deep concern over the ongoing targeting of Afghanistani Shias through violent acts.
The tragic attack, which took place last Friday during a prayer session, resulted in the loss of numerous lives among the worshiping Shia community. Initial reports from the Taliban indicated that seven individuals were killed and 15 others injured in the suicide bombing.
Adding to the gravity of the situation, the Islamic State of Khorasan, also known as ISIS, has claimed responsibility for the attack. Confirming this, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Human Rights for Afghanistan emphasized the need for accountability, prevention, and the protection of Afghanistan’s Shia population in the face of such barbaric acts.
Unveiling their involvement through a publication on Ahmaq news base, the ISIS group announced that one of their members detonated a suicide belt, causing the deaths of 50 Shia individuals and leaving countless others injured.
Expressing his deepest condolences to the families affected by this tragedy, Mr. Bennett urged that immediate action be taken to ensure the safety and security of the Afghanistani Shia community.
In response to the incident, the Taliban security command in Baghlan province confirmed that the explosion occurred during Friday prayers inside the Imam Zaman Mosque, situated in the second district of Pul-e-Khumri city. While the Taliban has dispatched their security and intelligence forces to investigate the attack, no information has been provided regarding the perpetrators or the motives behind the assault. However, alternate sources suggest that the number of casualties may exceed what the Taliban has reported to the media.
Pul-e-Khumri city holds significant importance for the Hazara and Shia communities in northern Afghanistan, and it has not witnessed such acts of violence in recent years. Contrarily, other cities in Afghanistan, notably Mazar-e-Sharif, Herat, and particularly Kabul, have experienced a series of attacks targeting the Hazara and Shia populations.
