The recent attack on Shia worshippers at a mosque in the Guzara district of Herat has sparked widespread condemnation from both local and international bodies.
The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) and Richard Bennett, the UN Human Rights Council's Special Rapporteur for Afghanistan, along with the Iranian Embassy in Kabul, have strongly condemned the attack, urging swift justice for those responsible.
Former Afghan President Hamid Karzai and Abdullah Abdullah, head of the former government's High Council for National Reconciliation, echoed these sentiments, labeling the attack as contrary to all Islamic and human norms. Hamid Karzai on social media platform X denounced the attack, calling it a violation of religious and human principles, while Abdullah Abdullah described the attack as "cowardly" and a clear act of terrorism, expressing his sympathy for the victims and survivors.
Hamid Karzai said: “I strongly condemn this attack, which resulted in the wounding of a number of our dear compatriots, and consider this terrorist act against all religious and human norms.”
Abdullah Abdullah said of the attack: “I consider this cowardly attack on our defenseless compatriots to be against Islamic and human norms.”
The Iranian Embassy highlighted its readiness to enhance counter-terrorism cooperation with Afghanistan in response to the attack.
UNAMA and the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights also called for accountability for the perpetrators of this attack.
Tariq Farhadi, a political analyst, told TOLOnews: “It would be better if more serious security measures are considered in Shia gathering places.”
Wais Nasiri, another political analyst said: “As long as activities, presence, and competition of insurgent groups are not curbed in Afghanistan, unfortunately, Afghanistan will remain a center and base for terrorist groups, and the proxy wars of these groups and powerful countries will continue.”
The attack resulted in the deaths of seven individuals, including the mosque's Imam, and left several others injured.
No group has yet claimed responsibility, and security officials have not provided comments on the matter.
Comment this post