Former Afghan Attorney General Condemns Herat Shooting as ‘Crime Against Humanity’
Following the shooting of civilians in the Injil district of Herat province, Farid Hamidi, the former Attorney General, described the incident as a “clear crime against civilians based on religion” and stated that the promotion of religious hatred by clerics affiliated with the Taliban administration lays the groundwork for such attacks.
On Saturday, March 11, Hamidi, referring to the deaths and injuries of several citizens, emphasized that this event could be considered a clear example of a crime against humanity under Article 7 of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court. He added that targeted attacks against specific religious groups, if carried out systematically or extensively, are prosecutable under this provision.
According to him, the continuation of similar attacks and the inability to prevent them, alongside the “open promotion of hostility and religious hatred” by some officials and clerics affiliated with the Taliban administration, could entail criminal responsibility for members of this group. These remarks come as human rights organizations have consistently warned about the consequences of spreading religious hatred in the country.
According to Taliban authorities, the attack took place on Friday and was carried out by gunmen on motorcycles at a recreational site in Injil district, resulting in seven deaths and 13 injuries. No group has claimed responsibility for the incident so far.
In a separate reaction, Hamid Karzai, the former president of the country, also strongly condemned the armed attack on civilians, describing it as a “regrettable and unacceptable” event. He expressed his condolences to the families of the victims and wished a speedy recovery to the injured.
