Condemnation of the bloody attack on Shia citizens in Herat Province by the “Afghan Empowered Women’s Movement”
Islamabad, Pakistan – April 2026
Members of the Afghan Empowered Women’s Movement, expressing deep sorrow and serious concern, strongly condemned the recent attack on Shia citizens in Herat Province. In an official statement, the movement called the recent bloody incident in the Deh Miri area of Injil district of Herat a “blatant violation of the right to life and human security” and considered it a sign of the continuation of the dangerous pattern of systematic targeting of religious groups in Afghanistan.
Details of the attack
According to multiple reports, on Friday, 21 Arbal 1405 (around April 10, 2026), unidentified gunmen (riding on motorcycles) opened fire on Shia civilians who had gathered for recreation and pilgrimage near the shrine of Sayed Mohammad Aqa in the Deh Miri area. The attackers first collected the victims’ mobile phones and then shot the men in front of their families. Some reports also indicate that women and children were shot as they fled.
• Casualties: At least 11 killed and 11 to 13 wounded (the exact number may be higher, with some local sources reporting around 20 casualties). The victims were mostly from the Shia community.
• No group has yet claimed responsibility for the attack, but one suspect has been detained by security forces. 
The attack is part of a long history of intimidation, discrimination and violence against Afghanistan’s Shia community. Repeated attacks on mosques, educational centres and Shia religious gatherings demonstrate the group’s extreme vulnerability to extremism and terrorism.
Position of the Afghan Empowered Women Movement
The movement’s statement reads:
Condemnation of the bloody attack on Shia citizens in Herat Province by the “Afghan Empowered Women’s Movement”
