After the Taliban’s takeover, attacks on Sufis in Afghanistan have increased. In a recent incident, armed assailants killed 11 individuals at a Sufi shrine in the Nahrin district of Baghlan province. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack yet, but reports indicate that the shrine is located near a Taliban security checkpoint.
On the night of Friday, November 22, 2024, the assailants murdered 11 Sufis at the “Sayed Padshah Agha” shrine. The Taliban confirmed the incident and reported the arrest of several suspects in connection with the attack.
One of the victims, Qari Sher Mohammad, a 37-year-old from the Old City of Nahrin, was the leader and instructor of this group of Sufis. Sher Mohammad had attended the shrine for 22 years, particularly on Friday nights, for worship.
Relatives described Sher Mohammad as a man who lived a difficult life, earning his livelihood through labor and selling second-hand items. He is survived by seven children. His family described him as a peaceful individual, stating that his harm “would not even reach an ant.”
A relative revealed that Sher Mohammad had been repeatedly threatened with death for visiting the shrine. Despite his family’s warnings, he remained devoted to his beliefs. The relative, who spoke anonymously for security reasons, said, “He had been warned before. They told him not to go, as it might cost him his life. His family and mother tried to stop him, but he would say, ‘Martyrdom is my wish, and I pray for it. If they kill me, so be it.’” The source also disclosed that Sher Mohammad’s body bore 17 bullet wounds.
Another source, also speaking anonymously, reported that the attackers were several individuals who fired 10 to 20 bullets at each victim. The assailants collected all the bullet cartridges from the scene before fleeing.
The source added that no cartridges were found at the site, suggesting that the attackers likely used Kalashnikov rifles. The victims were shot in a manner consistent with this type of weapon. Residents reported seeing two motorcyclists with dim headlights approaching the shrine late at night.
Initially, Taliban authorities in Baghlan refrained from commenting on the incident. However, hours after the attack became widely known through media and social platforms, they confirmed the event.
The Taliban’s police headquarters in Baghlan issued a statement acknowledging the attack, stating that 10 worshippers had been killed by unidentified gunmen. The statement also mentioned the arrest of several individuals under suspicion.
The identities of those detained remain unclear. A resident said they were unaware of any arrests and emphasized that there was no local opposition to the Sufis or their shrine.
No group has claimed responsibility for the killing of the 11 Sufis in Baghlan.
Meanwhile, local sources confirm that Sufism has many followers in Baghlan. They noted that Sufi shrines and gatherings continue with their traditional practices of worship and remembrance. However, sources also confirmed that the Taliban, along with ISIS affiliates, Wahhabis, and Salafis, oppose and act against Sufis.
The Taliban has repeatedly prevented Sufi gatherings and restricted access to shrines in Baghlan. Sources report that the Taliban has previously closed several Sufi shrines in the province, barring followers of various spiritual orders from entering.
A Sufi follower from Pul-e Khumri city, speaking anonymously, stated that the Taliban has shut down several shrines this year, including the “Baba Jani” shrine near the city’s silo.
You can read the Persian version of this daily report here:
ستیز مذهبی طالبان؛ صوفیان در نهرین بغلان قبلا تهدید شده بودند | روزنامه ۸صبح
