KABUL, AFGHANISTAN – The Islamic State (ISIS) has claimed responsibility for a deadly attack on a Sufi shrine in Baghlan province, northern Afghanistan, which killed at least 10 people.
In a statement on November 23, ISIS announced that its operatives targeted the shrine in Nahrin district, resulting in 10 deaths and several injuries.
The attack took place on the evening of November 21, when unidentified gunmen opened fire on worshippers gathered at the Sayed Padshah Agha Sadat shrine.
The Taliban’s police command in Baghlan confirmed the incident and reported the arrest of several suspects, though their identities have not yet been disclosed.
The attack has drawn widespread condemnation. Richard Bennett, the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in Afghanistan, described the assault as “deplorable,” highlighting the ongoing threats faced by religious minorities under Taliban rule. The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) also condemned the violence, urging an investigation and calling for enhanced protections for Sufi practitioners and other vulnerable communities.
This latest incident adds to a grim pattern of violence targeting Sufis in Afghanistan. Since the Taliban regained power in 2021, attacks on Sufi gatherings have increased, with ISIS frequently claiming responsibility. The extremist group views Sufis as “heretics” and has a history of attacking their places of worship.
Notable past incidents include the April 22, 2022, bombing of a Sufi mosque in Kunduz, which killed at least 33 people, including children. Just days later, on April 29, a bomb explosion in a Sufi mosque in Kabul claimed up to 50 lives and left dozens injured.
Historically, Sufis have faced persecution even during the Taliban’s first rule in the 1990s, when the group raided Sufi monasteries, destroyed their musical instruments, and forced community members into hiding.
In a 2022 report, Richard Bennett emphasized the need for accountability and investigation into attacks on religious minorities, including Sufis and Shia Hazaras. He warned that the increasingly systematic nature of these assaults suggests an organized policy that may qualify as crimes against humanity.
