Senior Afghan cleric killed in mosque blast in city of Herat


PTI, Sep 2, 2022, 4:22 PM IST

Herat: An explosion tore through a crowded mosque in western Afghanistan on Friday, killing a prominent cleric, Taliban officials said.

The death toll was expected to rise, they said.

The blast went off in the Guzargah Mosque in the western city of Herat during Friday noon prayers, the highlight of the Muslim religious week when places of worship are particularly crowded.

The explosion killed Mujib-ul Rahman Ansari, a prominent cleric who was known across Afghanistan for his criticism of Afghanistan’s Western-backed governments over the past two decades.

Ansari was seen as close to the Taliban, who seized control over the country a year ago as foreign forces withdrew.

His death was confirmed by the chief Taliban spokesman, Zabihullah Mujahid.

The spokesman for Afghanistan’s Interior Ministry said there were more dead and wounded, but could not provide details.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility for Friday’s blast.

Previous mosque attacks have been claimed by the Islamic State extremist group, which has carried out a series of attacks against religious and ethnic minorities in Afghanistan, as well as Taliban targets.

The Herat mosque draws followers of Sunni Islam, the dominant stream in Afghanistan that is also followed by the Taliban.

In the year since the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan, Islamic State attacked several mosques in suicide attacks during Friday prayers, with a focus on targeting Shiite Muslims.

Islamic State followers are also Sunnis and consider Shiites to be infidels.

Udayavani is now on Telegram. Click here to join our channel and stay updated with the latest news.

Top News

Bhadravathi: Seven injured in boiler explosion at rice mill

Strict provisions of law for women’s welfare; marriage not commercial venture: SC

Allegation of abuse against K’taka Minister Laxmi: BJP leader C T Ravi booked, taken into custody

Mangaluru Traffic Advisory: Netravathi Bridge repair work to affect vehicle movement

MUDA case: Karnataka HC defers filing of Lokayukta police report

BJP files police complaint against Rahul, seeks FIR under ‘attempt to murder, assault, incitement’

Mid-sea crash: Navy institutes ‘Board of Inquiry’ to establish facts of case

Related Articles More

Trump says India charges lot of tariff, threatens to impose reciprocal tax

Cyclone Chido hits French territory of Mayotte; Death toll is ‘several hundred,’ top official says

Sheikh Hasina mounts fresh attacks on Muhammad Yunus; accuses him of leading an “undemocratic group”

Tabla maestro Zakir Hussain in San Francisco ICU with heart problems

Ousted PM Sheikh Hasina involved in enforced disappearance: Bangladesh commission

MUST WATCH

Tulunadu Daivaradane

Feeding Birds with Creative Paddy Art!

Areca Nut

HOTEL SRI DURGA BHAVANA

Harish Poonja


Latest Additions

Bhadravathi: Seven injured in boiler explosion at rice mill

Strict provisions of law for women’s welfare; marriage not commercial venture: SC

Allegation of abuse against K’taka Minister Laxmi: BJP leader C T Ravi booked, taken into custody

Gadag: 2-yo girl dies after being run over by water tanker

Mangaluru Traffic Advisory: Netravathi Bridge repair work to affect vehicle movement

Thanks for visiting Udayavani

You seem to have an Ad Blocker on.
To continue reading, please turn it off or whitelist Udayavani.