Phto: Social Media

Death toll of Taliban crack down on Ashura mourners rises

The Taliban’s crack down on Ashura mourning ceremonies in Afghanistan has left a rising number of casualties. In the city of Ghazni, the death toll has risen to four, with nearly 33 others injured, after Taliban forces opened fire on mourners.

The shooting took place in the early hours of Saturday morning, as mourners were gathering for a procession to mark the 10th of Muharram, a day of remembrance for the martyrdom of Imam Hussain, the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad.

According to witnesses, the Taliban forces opened fire without warning, and the mourners were caught off guard. The shooting caused panic and chaos, and many mourners were injured in the stampede that followed.

Video clips of the beating of Ashura mourners and the Taliban’s shooting towards them in Ghazni have been circulated widely on social media. In one of these video clips, a child is seen falling to the ground after being shot by the Taliban, and witnesses of the event confirm that the child was hit by a bullet.

The Taliban’s governor office in Ghazni has labeled Ashura mourners as “rioters” in a statement, and accused them of disrupting security. The statement read that “some individuals were injured” in the shooting, but did not mention the deaths of Ashura mourners.

This year, the Taliban imposed extensive restrictions on holding mourning ceremonies during the month of Muharram in Afghanistan, citing “security and precautionary measures” as the reason.