Unknown Armed Assailants Kill Two Clerics, Including Mohammad Taqi Sadeghi and Mohammad Mohsen Hamidi, in Attack in Afghanistan’s Herat Province

Accident – Death – Obituary News : Kabul [Afghanistan], December 2 (ANI): A tragic incident unfolded in the Jibril district of Afghanistan’s Herat province on Friday when unknown armed assailants launched an attack, resulting in the death of at least six people, including two clerics. Local media, citing Khaama Press, reported that the victims were targeted on their way back from a memorial ceremony for a Hazara priest in Anjil Herat’s Khoshroud district.

The attack took place at approximately 2 p.m. on Friday, about 10 kilometers from the city center, near the Shaheedan and Kuh-e Melli neighborhoods in Herat’s Jibril district. The targeted clerics have been identified as Mohammad Taqi Sadeghi and Mohammad Mohsen Hamidi. They were attending a memorial ceremony in Herat when they fell victim to this heinous act.

According to Khaama Press, this incident marks the assassination of at least four Hazara clerics or religious leaders in Herat over the past one and a half months. The series of targeted killings has raised concerns among the international community, particularly given the growing human rights violations by the Taliban and the deteriorating human rights situation in Afghanistan.

Previously, the UN Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights in Afghanistan expressed great concern over the assassination of two Shia clerics in Herat, describing the situation as “very concerning.” In response to this latest attack, Richard Bent, the UN official, has called for an independent investigation into the incident and the punishment of the culprits in accordance with international principles.

Despite the Taliban’s promises to ensure security, apprehensions regarding the safety of individuals, especially the Hazara group, continue to mount. The Hazara community has been subjected to violent persecution for over a century, but the situation has escalated to unprecedented levels since the Taliban took control in August 2021. The targeting of Hazara houses of worship, schools, and other public places has intensified, further exacerbating the plight of this marginalized group.

As the international community closely monitors the human rights situation in Afghanistan, incidents like these highlight the urgent need for action. The UN’s call for an independent investigation and the identification and punishment of the perpetrators underscores the importance of justice and accountability.

It is crucial that the international community, in collaboration with Afghan authorities, takes decisive steps to address the escalating violence and protect vulnerable communities. The safety and security of all individuals, regardless of their religious or ethnic background, must be ensured to foster a peaceful and inclusive Afghanistan for all its citizens..