Afghan Shiites demand security during Muharram

By: Ali Hussein

KABUL, Afghanistan: A large number of people gathered in Kabul and asked security officials to ensure Shiite mourning gatherings and processions during month of Muharram.

Sayed Essa Hussaini Masari, an Islamic scholar and one of the participants of the gathering, said the Afghan forces should adopt strict measures so deadly incidents of the past were not repeated. He said distribution of weapons to volunteer youth would be helpful.

Sayed Mohammad Baqi Waezi, another Islamic scholar, said that serious threats might occur during Muharram processions.

‘We know threats from Daesh and , but we would observe Muharram with special will and power and would stand with Afghan security forces for protection of our sisters and brothers,’ he said.

IS in the past 14 months has claimed a series of attacks which killed scores of Shia Muslims. There were two major assaults on Shia mosques in August alone. In Kabul a suicide bomber and gunmen stormed a building during Friday prayers, killing 28 people and wounding scores more.

Earlier in the month an IS attack on a Shia mosque in the western city of Herat left 33 worshippers dead and 66 wounded. In July 2016 twin explosions ripped through crowds of Shia Hazaras in Kabul, killing more than 80 people and wounding hundreds more.