Flood & Heavy Rain Kill 22 In Afghanistan Over Two Days

In a statement, Khalili said the killings show that Afghans, particularly followers of the Jafari and Ismaili sects, remain exposed to discrimination, organised violence and serious security threats.

He also referred to Taliban policies aimed at changing students’ religious affiliation, saying that alongside the Herat shooting, “imposing beliefs on citizens, especially in academic sectors, reflects a deliberate policy to suppress religious freedom and enforce uniformity”.

Khalili said universities, which should be centers of free thought, are being turned into tools of ideological pressure and the elimination of religious and intellectual diversity.

He warned that forcing students to change their sect is part of a dangerous trend that could fuel wider violence.

Khalili added that Taliban policies embolden extremist groups and create conditions for targeted violence against vulnerable Shia and Hazara communities.

Mohammad Mohaqiq, leader of People's Islamic Unity Party of Afghanistan, said on Saturday, April 11, that recent violence “stems from the extremist thinking of those in power”.

He said Shia Islam has lost official recognition under Taliban rule, citing statements by Taliban officials that denounce non-Hanafi sects.

Mohaqiq argued that such views and actions create the conditions for “tragic and catastrophic incidents”, adding that pressure on Shia communities and efforts to force students to change their sect amount to a signal to armed groups to carry out attacks.

On Friday afternoon, gunmen attacked Shia families in Deh Mehri village in Injil district, Herat, killing at least 11 people, according to Taliban figures.

The Taliban Interior Ministry confirmed that unidentified gunmen on motorcycles carried out the attack. No group has claimed responsibility.

Former Bamiyan governor Tahir Zuhair said Taliban officials in Herat had previously used sectarian language in writings that could be seen as justifying violence against Shia communities.

He described the Herat shooting as part of a broader policy aimed at marginalising Shias, adding that the Taliban have restricted their presence in media and public discourse.

The attack has drawn widespread reactions from officials and citizens.

The Taliban Interior Ministry had earlier confirmed that unidentified gunmen opened fire on civilians near a recreational area in Injil district on Friday afternoon.

The head of the Taliban’s Information and Culture Department in Herat said the death toll had risen to 11, adding that seven of the wounded later died in hospital due to the severity of their injuries.

Goldsmiths and other shopkeepers in Herat city launched a strike in protest at the deadly attack on civilians in the province.

Sources told Afghanistan International that four-armed men on motorcycles, carrying Kalashnikov rifles and pistols, carried out the shooting on Friday afternoon, targeting civilians who had gone to the area for recreation.

Ahmadullah Muttaqi, head of the Taliban’s Information and Culture Department in Herat, said seven of the wounded died at Herat Regional Hospital due to the severity of their injuries.

He added that eight other injured people remain under treatment at the hospital.

Muttaqi also said one suspect has been arrested in connection with the attack.

The incident took place around 3pm on Friday in Deh Mehri village in Injil district, where gunmen opened fire on Shia families who had gone there for recreation.

The Taliban Interior Ministry had earlier confirmed that unidentified armed men on motorcycles carried out the shooting, adding that some of the wounded were in critical condition.

Sources told Afghanistan International that four gunmen armed with Kalashnikov rifles and pistols were involved in the attack, which reportedly killed at least 13 people, including two women.

The attack occurred near a shrine known as “Sayed Mohammad Agha” in a predominantly Shia area.

Sources warn that the death toll could rise further.

Herat Regional Hospital has appealed for blood donations, with images showing large crowds gathered outside.

No group has claimed responsibility for the attack.

Sources said the attackers, armed with Kalashnikov rifles and pistols, targeted people who had gone to the area for recreation.

Among the victims were the local elder of Deh Mehri village and two of his sons, as well as three members of another family.

A list obtained by Afghanistan International shows that at least 21 people, including five women, were killed or injured in Deh Mehri alone, though it does not distinguish between fatalities and wounded.

Sources said several of the injured are in critical condition, while some others were discharged after receiving initial treatment.

They added that a delegation from Kabul is expected to travel to Herat, and Shia clerics will hold a meeting with the participation of a Taliban representative.

Another source said the Herat gold traders’ union plans to stage a strike in response to the killings.

No group has claimed responsibility, and the Taliban have not released details about the attack.

However, an eyewitness told Afghanistan International that the attackers were discussing “religious issues” among themselves.

Attacks on civilians, particularly Shia communities, are not new in Herat. In April 29, 2024, ISIS-affiliated gunmen opened fire on Shia worshippers at Imam Zaman Mosque in Guzara district, killing at least six people, including a woman and a child.

Human rights and international organisations have repeatedly expressed concern about the situation of Shia communities under Taliban rule.

Over more than four years in power, the Taliban have imposed restrictions on religious minorities, particularly Shias, institutionalising discrimination by obstructing their religious ceremonies.

In addition, Taliban laws and courts, based on Hanafi jurisprudence, have discouraged Sunni-Shia marriages and reportedly pressured Ismaili communities in some areas to abandon their beliefs.

BBC World cited data from the US State Department’s Refugee Processing Center, reporting that a total of 4,499 refugees were resettled during this period, all but three of whom were from South Africa.

This compares with the final full fiscal year of Joe Biden’s administration, when around 125,000 refugees from 85 countries were admitted to the United States.

Last year, Donald Trump introduced sweeping changes to immigration policy, significantly restricting or halting refugee admissions, including applicants from conflict zones such as Afghanistan.

However, he prioritised white South African minorities, whom he claimed face “racial persecution”, allowing them to apply for resettlement in the United States. The move was rejected by the South African government, which dismissed claims of “white genocide” as unfounded.

The Trump administration also reduced the refugee admissions cap for the 2026 fiscal year to 7,500, the lowest since the programme was established in 1980, prioritising white South Africans and “other victims of unlawful or unjust discrimination”.

Afghans have consistently been among the top nationalities seeking asylum in the US over the past decade. Following the recent changes, thousands of Afghan refugees remain stranded in regional countries and elsewhere, awaiting resettlement.