An explosion targeted at Khalifa Sahib Mosque, a Sufi mosque in Kabul, detonated on the last day of Ramadan, 21 April 2022. The blast killed 10 and seriously injured 15. This attack against civilians is one of many in recent months. Violence against civilians has been increasing since the beginning of this year. . 

One day prior to the explosion at  Khalifa Sahib Mosque, nine people were killed and 15 injured as a result of explosions targeting two minibusses. The attack on the minibosses followed an attack on a different Sufi mosque killed 33 people and wounded 43. These are only some attacks that have been occurring in Afghanistan in recent months. According to Modern Diplomacy, local hospitals are overwhelmed as there have been an increase in casualties; many of whom are children. Earlier this year, on 21 April 2022, a Shiite mosque was attacked in the north of Afghanistan. 10 people were killed in the explosion. The Islamic State Khorasan claimed responsibility for the attack on civilians in and around the Shiite mosque. 

While the perpetrators of a number of these attacks remain anonymous, it is clear that the severity and frequency of violence against unarmed civilians is targeted at religious minorities in Afghanistan. Both Sufi and Shiite mosques have been frequent victims of attacks. It has been reported that many Shiites, Hazaras specifically, have been victims of religious violence in recent months.

 Despite the Talaban’s efforts, attacks on civilians in Afghanistan have been on the rise. Many fear the strength that extremist groups are cultivating will only add to the recent violence against civilians.  

To read more, visit:

• https://news.un.org/en/story/2022/04/1117322
• https://www.nytimes.com/2022/04/22/world/asia/afghanistan-mosque-attack.html
• https://www.nytimes.com/2022/04/21/world/asia/afghanistan-mosque-bombing.html

by Gretl Merges