KABUL, AFGHANISTAN – The funeral ceremony for the victims of the attack on Shiite civilians in Injil district of Herat was held today (Tuesday, April 14) with the participation of thousands of residents of the province.
The funeral procession began from the Jameh Sadiqiya Mosque in Herat city, and eight of the victims were later buried at the “Sultan Agha” shrine.
Three other victims of the attack, who were residents of the village of “Deh Miri” in Injil district of Herat province, were buried in the same village.
Some residents of Herat province also turned the funeral ceremony into a protest, calling for those responsible for the attack to be identified and brought to justice. On Tuesday, April 14, participants chanted slogans expressing solidarity with the victims and condemning terrorism as they carried the bodies to their burial sites.
The demonstrators urged the Taliban to take swift and transparent steps to investigate the incident, warning that failure to ensure citizens’ security could lead to the repetition of such attacks.
Armed attackers targeted Shiites near a shrine in the village of “Deh Miri” in Injil district of Herat province on Friday.
According to local reports, four armed attackers first separated the men from the women, tied their hands, and then opened fire on them.
Subsequently, the attackers also shot at women and children who attempted to flee in fear, resulting in additional people killed and injured.
Some of the victims were residents of Dah Miri village, while others were from the “Bakrabad” area in Herat city and had traveled to Dah Miri for recreation.
Local Taliban officials in Herat have stated that one person has been arrested in connection with the attack, and efforts are ongoing to detain the remaining perpetrators.
According to statistics from the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), 11 people were killed and 11 others were wounded in the attack.
The Taliban’s Department of Information and Culture in Herat has also confirmed that 11 people were killed, but reported the number of wounded as eight.
So far, no individual or group has claimed responsibility for the attack.
In addition, reaction to the attack have been strongly critical. The armed anti-Taliban group claimed such violence could not occur without support from local Taliban authorities.
Meanwhile, Nasir Ahmad Faiq at the United Nations, along with former leaders Hamid Karzai and Abdullah Abdullah, condemned the attack, described it as inhumane, and called for accountability, while expressing sympathy for the victims’ families.
Shiites and Hazaras in Herat province have repeatedly been targeted in recent years in similar armed attacks. In some cases, ISIS has claimed responsibility for such incidents, while in others, no group has taken responsibility.
This incident once again highlights the ongoing security threats faced by minority communities in Afghanistan and raises concerns about the protection of civilians, particularly in areas where targeted attacks have continued over the past years.
Since returning to power in 2021, the Taliban have faced widespread accusations of discrimination against non-Pashtun ethnic groups and religious minorities, alongside restrictions on civil liberties, media operations, and public dissent.
A report published eight months ago by the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) warned that the Taliban have effectively “eradicated” religious freedom in Afghanistan by enforcing a single interpretation of Islam and targeting individuals with differing beliefs.
The commission noted that religious minorities have been particularly vulnerable under these conditions, facing discrimination, persecution, and serious threats to their safety.
USCIRF also called for urgent international action, emphasizing the need for protection mechanisms and resettlement pathways for Afghans at risk.
It recommended that the United States expand refugee protections, including the establishment of a Priority 2 (P-2) program, to support members of highly threatened religious groups, while warning that returnees to Afghanistan could face severe risks such as arbitrary detention and punishment.
