A gunman stormed a mosque in western Afghanistan, opening fire and killing six people who were in the midst of prayer, a Taliban official said on Tuesday.
Local media reports and a former president of Afghanistan suggested that the mosque was targeted because it serves the country’s Shiite Muslim minority.
The attack occurred on Monday night in the Guzara district of Herat province, according to Abdul Mateen Qani, a spokesman for the Taliban Interior Ministry. He noted in a social media post that an investigation into the incident is currently underway.
No one immediately claimed responsibility for the attack, which also wounded another worshipper as the assailant fled the scene. Local media reported that the mosque’s imam was among those killed.
Former Afghan President Hamid Karzai condemned the attack on the Imam Zaman Mosque, stating on X: “I strongly condemn the attack on the Imam Zaman Mosque. I consider this terrorist act against all religious and human standards.”
The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) also condemned the attack, which it reported killed and wounded at least seven people, including a child. UNAMA called for urgent accountability for the perpetrators and stressed the need for protection measures for Shiite communities.
The Islamic State group’s affiliate in Afghanistan, known as ISIS-Khorasan, is a major rival to the Taliban and is known for targeting schools, hospitals, mosques, and Shiite areas throughout the country. This attack fits the pattern of violence the group has carried out against religious and civilian targets in Afghanistan.
The Taliban took control of Afghanistan in August 2021, as U.S. and NATO troops completed their withdrawal from the country after two decades of conflict. The Taliban's return to power came amid a tumultuous and chaotic departure of Western forces, leaving Afghanistan's future in a state of uncertainty.
Although the Taliban initially promised to adopt a more moderate stance, they eventually reinstated a strict interpretation of Islamic law, or Shariah, similar to their earlier rule from 1996 to 2001. This reimposition of strict regulations has affected various aspects of Afghan society, including women's rights, education, and personal freedoms, leading to growing concern and criticism from the international community.
