Afghanistan: UN condemns killing of civilians in Herat mosque attack

2 August 2017 – United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres and the UN political mission in Afghanistan have denounced last night’s attack against worshippers gathered in a mosque in the city of Herat which killed at least 31 civilians and injured many more.

&#8220The Secretary-General strongly condemns the attack,&#8221 said his spokesman, Stéphane Dujarric, in a statement issued overnight.

&#8220Attacks that deliberately target civilians are clear violations of fundamental human rights and international humanitarian law,&#8221 he added.

The UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) joined in the condemnation of the attack at the Jawadia mosque.

According to the Mission, two attackers entered the Shia mosque during the evening prayer time when several hundred worshipers were present, opening fire and detonating two suicide improvised explosive devices against the congregation.

&#8220This attack deliberately targeting civilians at prayer can have no justification whatsoever,&#8221 said Tadamichi Yamamoto, the Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Afghanistan. &#8220Fanning terror and sectarian violence against a specific community is abhorrent and those responsible must be brought to account.&#8221

The Secretary-General and UNAMA expressed condolences to the victims’ families and wished a speedy recovery to the injured.

According to UNAMA, the attack is the fifth this year targeting Shia mosques, killing a total of at least 44 civilians and injuring at least 88. Four of the attacks occurred in Herat and the other in Kabul. Islamic State-Khorasan province claimed responsibility for two of these attacks.

In 2016, UNAMA recorded four separate attacks against Shia mosques and religious gatherings. Islamic State-Khorasan province claimed responsibility for two of those attacks.

Yesterday’s attack took place one day after the assault against the Embassy of Iraq in Kabul, where two Afghan civilians lost their lives and one was injured.

The United Nations recalls international humanitarian law that prohibits deliberate attacks against civilians and civilian objects, including places of worship, as well as the cardinal principle of the inviolability of diplomatic premises.