TEHRAN – Iraq’s most prominent Shia cleric Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani on Sunday condemned a terrorist attack on a Shia mosque in Kunduz in Afghanistan, criticizing Islamic nations and the international community for leaving the Afghan people “alone.”
Ayatollah Sistani’s remarks in a statement published by his office came after a Daesh terrorist blew himself up among worshipers attending Friday prayers, leaving more than 150 people martyred and some 200 others injured.
“It is with regret and disbelief that the Muslim countries and the international community have left the helpless nation of Afghanistan alone and practically allowed more of the innocent believers of this country to be targeted by the heinous attacks of radical and merciless groups,” Ayatollah Sistani said.
“In these tough circumstances, we invite you to observe national unity and solidarity more than ever before, and to find a way to protect civilians against the tyranny and crime of terrorist groups, and to take appropriate measures to prevent the recurrence of such catastrophes in mosques and public gatherings,” he added.
In a statement on Sunday, Lebanon’s Hezbollah movement lambasted the attack, saying such terrorist acts contradict all divine religions and human laws.
“Hezbollah expresses its deep sorrow over the large number of martyrs and wounded in the terrorist bombing that targeted worshipers at a mosque in Afghanistan’s Kunduz province, and condemns in the strongest terms this criminal act which violates divine law; a crime committed by a Wahhabi terrorist organization,” the statement said.
Hezbollah called on all religious leaders across the Muslim world to take a “firm stance” against takfiri terrorist groups and “isolate” them.
It also urged Afghan authorities to punish perpetrators and prevent recurrence of such horrific massacres.
Daesh has claimed responsibility for numerous attacks in Afghanistan.
Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei on Saturday also called on Afghan authorities to punish perpetrators behind the terrorist attack.
“The bitter, tragic incident involving a blast at the mosque of Khanabad district of Kunduz province, which resulted in the deaths of a large number of faithful worshippers, saddened us,” Ayatollah Khamenei said in a message.
“Authorities in the neighboring and brotherly country of Afghanistan are seriously expected to punish the bloodthirsty perpetrators of this heinous crime and take necessary measures to prevent a recurrence of such tragedies,” he added.
Iran’s Parliament speaker Muhammad Baqer Qalibaf said the enemies are plotting to stoke religious and ethnic discord in Afghanistan.
“Ethnic and religious discord is the new security project of the Afghan nation’s enemies, which is being carried out by terrorist groups backed by the United States,” Qalibaf told an open session of the parliament on Sunday.
“Heads of the Muslim countries should wisely rely on unity among Muslim nations to hinder the activities of takfiri groups and ensure unity and security across the region.”
Shia Muslims have suffered some of Afghanistan’s most violent assaults, with rallies bombed, hospitals targeted and commuters ambushed.
Shias make up about 20 percent of the Afghan population. Many of them are Hazara, an ethnic group that has been persecuted for decades.
In October 2017, a Daesh terrorist struck a Shia mosque in the west of Kabul, killing 56 people and wounding 55.
And in May this year, a series of bombings outside a school in the capital killed at least 85 people, mostly young girls. More than 300 were wounded in this attack on the Hazara community.
Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi on Friday voiced concern about the persistence of terrorist acts in Afghanistan.
“It is no secret to anyone that the growth of this Takfiri terrorist movement has taken place with the supports and plans of the U.S.,” he said. “In recent years, the United States has facilitated further activities of Daesh criminals in Afghanistan and prevented their eradication.”