Assassination of Shia Scholars in Afghanistan Aimed at Fomenting Religious Discord: Cleric
Speaking in an interview with IQNA, Hojat-ol-Islam Issa Mazari, said acts of terrorism used to grow after the US invasion of Afghanistan but they have dwindled during the Taliban’s rule.
However, there are still terrorist activities, including the recent assassinations of Shia scholars in Herat, he noted.
In terrorist attacks in Shia-populated areas in Afghanistan’s Herat over the past two months, four Shia clerics and four women have been killed.
Taliban’s security officials say unknown gunmen carried out the attacks.
No group has yet claimed responsibility for these terrorist acts yet. Since the Taliban took power in Afghanistan, the Daesh (ISIL or ISIS) has claimed responsibility for a series of terrorist attacks targeting Shia sites, especially mosques and cultural centers belonging to the Shia Hazara minority.
The Hazara community accuse the Taliban of being unable to ensure security for Shias in Afghanistan.
Read More:
Recently, Mohmmad Motahari, the head of the Shia Scholars Council in Herat said the Taliban has committed to take more serious measures to safeguard security.
The group has vowed to provide weapons and security personnel for Shia religious scholars.
Shia Muslims make up around 30 percent of the population of Afghanistan. The Country’s Shia figures have opted for interaction with the Taliban since it came to power but some groups are unhappy with this and seek to disrupt this interaction and provoke religious disunity.
In his interview with IQNA, Hojat-ol-Islam Mazari highlighted this sinister objective of the enemies of Afghanistan, saying they want to make it look like Sunni Muslims are behind the assassination of Shia clerics.
They also want to make people believe that the Taliban considers no status for Shias in the Afghan society, while this is not the case as the Taliban have treated Shias well, he said.
Read More:
Another goal of the enemies is to disrupt the ties between the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Taliban and force Iran to reconsider the relations, Mazari added.
He referred to a recent visit by a Taliban delegation to Iran, which was well received, and said economic interaction between the two countries is growing.
Hojat-ol-Islam Mazari underlined the need for the Taliban to take decisive action against those behind terrorist activities and assassinations.
The people of Afghanistan should also cooperate with the government, contribute to enhancing security and report suspected activities, he went on to say.
4187279
