JEDDAH:
A prominent imam close to the Taliban was among at least 18 people killed on Friday in a suicide bombing at a mosque in Afghanistan.
Mujib ur Rahman Ansari was walking toward the Gazargah Mosque in Herat for Friday prayers when the attack happened.
“The bomber came near Ansari and then set off his explosives-laden vest,” said Hameedullah Motawakel, spokesman for the governor of Herat province.
Ansari’s brother Habib ul Rahman was also among those killed. Daesh militants admitted carrying out the attack.
The Organization of Islamic Cooperation condemned the bombing. The OIC “remains gravely concerned that sporadic attacks and explosions in various provinces across the country continue to mar the security and social peace of Afghan people,” it said.
“The OIC renews its resolute solidarity with Afghanistan and its long-suffering people.”
Deputy Prime Minister Abdul Ghani Baradar, who had met Ansari a few hours before at a gathering in Herat, also condemned the killing of “a strong and brave religious scholar.”
He said: “The perpetrators of this heinous act will be punished.”
Ansari, who was in his late thirties, was an influential cleric known for his fiery speeches.
BACKGROUND
Daesh has primarily targeted minority communities such as Shiites, Sufis and Sikhs, but also has a bitter rivalry with the Taliban.
In July, at a religious gathering in Kabul, he strongly defended Afghanistan’s new Taliban rulers.
“Whoever commits the smallest act against our Islamic government should be beheaded,” he said. “The Taliban flag has not been raised easily, and it will not be lowered easily.”
Even before the Taliban returned to power in August 2021, Ansari had been calling for women to be fully covered in public, and for bans on music concerts in Herat.
In his speeches, he launched tirades against the previous US-backed governments.
Ansari is the second pro-Taliban cleric to be killed in a blast in less than a month, after an Aug. 11 suicide attack targeted Rahimullah Haqqani at his madrassa in Kabul.
Haqqani was known for angry speeches against Daesh, who later admitted having killed him.
Several mosques across Afghanistan have been targeted this year, mostly in attacks claimed by Daesh.
At least 21 people were killed and dozens injured on Aug. 17 when a blast ripped through a mosque packed with worshippers in Kabul.
Daesh has primarily targeted minority communities such as Shiites, Sufis and Sikhs, but also has a bitter rivalry with the Taliban.
Government officials say the group has been defeated but analysts say Daesh remains Afghanistan’s main security challenge.
