Ten Killed in Attack on Sufi Shrine in Afghanistan

Ten worshippers were killed when a man opened fire on a Sufi shrine in Baghlan province in northeastern Afghanistan, according to the Ministry of Interior spokesperson, who spoke to AFP on Friday. Spokesman Abdul Matin Qani said, “A man opened fire on Sufi followers participating in weekly rituals at a shrine in the remote district of Nahrin, killing 10 people.”

A resident of Nahrin, who knew some of the victims, told AFP, “The worshippers had gathered at Sayyed Pasha Agha shrine on Thursday evening and had started Sufi chants when a man opened fire on about 10 worshippers.” He added, “When others came for prayer in the morning, they discovered the bodies.”

Sufi followers have often been targeted during rituals and gatherings in Afghanistan. In April 2022, 33 people, including children, were killed in a blast targeting a Sufi mosque during Friday prayers in Kunduz province. Although the number of bombings has decreased since the Taliban took power in August 2021, extremist groups like ISIS-K continue to launch attacks occasionally, according to AFP. In September, ISIS-K claimed responsibility for an attack in central Afghanistan that killed 14 people gathered to receive visitors returning from the city of Karbala in Iraq.