Protests in western Afghanistan city post mosque attack

By Shadi Khan Saif

KABUL, Afghanistan

Hundreds of people took to the streets in Afghanistan’s western province of Herat on Wednesday, to condemn an attack on a Shia mosque that claimed 31 lives and injured more than 60.

Tuesday’s attack, which has not yet been claimed by any terrorist group, drew international condemnation and shook the Afghan people’s confidence in their government.

“The government cannot even ensure security of worshipers in the mosque. What sort of a government keeps collecting taxes, but cannot ensure safety of its people?” said Ghullam Ali, one of the survivors of the attack, speaking to Anadolu Agency over the phone.

In a statement President Ashraf Ghani urged religious scholars to speak out against the “barbaric acts of terrorism”.

“Afghanistan is a model for peaceful religious coexistence. The terrorists cannot create religious divisions among our people through such criminal acts," he said in a statement.

The UN, the U.S., EU, Turkey, Iran, Pakistan and many other countries have condemned the attack.

“Fanning terror and sectarian violence against a specific community is abhorrent and those responsible must be brought to account,” said Tadamichi Yamamoto, the UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Afghanistan.

Dozens of people had gathered at the mosque for the late evening prayers when a suspected suicide bomber blew himself up, and a second attacker opened indiscriminate fire at the worshipers.

This is the fifth attack this year which has targeted a Shia mosque in the country, according to the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan.

Such attacks have killed at least 44 civilians and injured 88, the UN mission reported.

Two of these attacks have been claimed by Daesh.