Afghan women protest against sectarian attacks

HERAT: Several women demonstrated in western Afghanistan on Sunday against sectarian attacks at the funeral of members of their community killed days before.

The women shouted, “Death to the murderers” and “We need security” during the funeral in Herat city’s Jebrael area, Hussain Azimi, a member of the ulma, or council of religious scholars, said.

They were among several hundred people gathered to mourn six victims of the attack in Herat on Friday.

Seven people were killed and one wounded when unidentified gunmen opened fire on a rickshaw carrying two Shia clerics, the Herat intelligence department said.

Locals said four women were among the dead and that both clerics were killed.

That followed the reported killings of three other Shia clerics in the province in late November and October, attacks called “highly concerning” by UN Special Rapporteur Richard Bennett in a recent post on social media site X.

The interior ministry condemned Friday’s attack in a statement as a “terrorist incident”.

Shias are a frequent target of attacks by members of the militant Islamic State group.

Violence has reduced dramatically since the Taliban ended their insurgency after seizing power in August 2021, but several armed groups — including the regional chapter of IS — remain a threat.