The Afghanistan Peace International Studies Association strongly condemns the recent attack targeting innocent civilians from the Shi’a religious community in Herat Province. Targeting civilians on the basis of their religious identity constitutes a grave violation of human rights and the fundamental principles of international humanitarian law, and may amount to a crime against humanity.
At a time when Afghanistan continues to face insecurity, instability, and the absence of lasting peace, the continuation of such violence deepens the suffering of the people and seriously threatens the prospects for sustainable peace at the national, regional, and global levels.
We call on all relevant legal, judicial, and international institutions to:
- initiate immediate, independent, and impartial investigations;
- identify and prosecute the perpetrators, planners, and supporters of this crime; and
- adopt effective measures to protect religious minorities.
We reaffirm our commitment to justice, accountability, and the pursuit of sustainable peace in Afghanistan and throughout the world.
