KABUL (SW) – After the death of 10 people in the “Seyid Padshah Agha Sadaat” shrine in the Nahrin district of Baghlan, Zabihullah Mujahid, the spokesperson for the Islamic Emirate, has said that the perpetrators of this incident will be pursued and prosecuted.
Mujahid added that the Islamic Emirate’s forces are making efforts to prevent the repetition of such “crimes.” “The perpetrators of this incident will be arrested at the earliest opportunity and will face the consequences of their actions. It will not be allowed for such an event to occur again; this incident occurred because it was far from the main security areas, and the security forces were unaware of the gathering of people in that place. Otherwise, naturally, efforts would have been made to ensure their security.”
The spokesperson of the Islamic Emirate emphasized that every Afghan citizen has the right to live in a secure environment and practice their religious ceremonies.
At the same time, some relatives of the victims of this incident say that for the past 15 years, Sufis had gathered at this shrine and were performing “dhikr” (remembrance of God). They state that most of the victims were from the poor class of society and were the breadwinners of their families.
Ajmal, from the Nahrin district of Baghlan, whose brother was among the 10 victims of this incident, said: “A very terrifying incident occurred while people were in prayer inside the mosque. Those who were the breadwinners of their families were targeted. This incident is a disrespect to the mosque.”
Sufi worship places have previously been the targets of deadly attacks as well.
In April 2022, an attack on a Khanqah (Sufi shrine) in the 6th district of Kabul killed 10 people and injured more than 20 others. In the same year, in June, a Khanqah in the Imam Sahib district of Kunduz was targeted by a bomb, killing and injuring at least 76 people.
Mohammad Tawab, a resident of Baghlan who lost his cousin in the shooting at the shrine in Baghlan, said that after the shooting, many local people were “shocked.” “All the poor workers who had gathered on Friday night for the religious program, reciting prayers and performing dhikr, were targeted in this way. This incident has caused great concern and anxiety among everyone.”
Two days after the attack on worshippers in Baghlan, no individual or group has claimed responsibility for the incident.
The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) has condemned the armed attack on the Sufi shrine in Baghlan and has urged the Islamic Emirate to thoroughly investigate the incident and take measures to prevent its recurrence.
