Afghan clerics warn of Daesh dividing Shia, Sunni communities

A group of Afghan Shia scholars have condemned the struggles by Daesh terrorist group to spark sectarian war in the country particularly following the recent terror attacks against Shia mosques, reported Taqrib News Agency (TNA).

Daesh terrorists have targeted two mosques in the northern province of Kunduz and in Kandahar province killing and wounding dozens of Shia worshippers.

Shia clerics in Kandahar referred to the historical ties among Muslims in Afghanistan and said,” Shias have struggled along with the Sunnis in the war for independence of Afghanistan from the UK and during the Russian invasion of the country.

They highlighted the national solidarity, regardless of sectarian differences, created between the Shia and Sunni Muslims in Afghanistan.

“The objective behind the Daesh terrorist attacks against Shia mosques during the past two weeks was to spark sectarian war in Afghanistan” warned the Shia clerics and vowed the ambition will not be fulfilled.

Shia scholars called for security measures and return of the arms collected from the Shias so that the security of Shia mosques, schools and seminaries is guaranteed.

Sardar Mohammad Zahedi, head of the Shia council who survived the October 15 terrorist attack said the attack hurt all Afghans but to particularly target the Shias has brought much concern for security of the religious minority group.

Prayer leader of Kandahar expressed concern over inexperienced Taliban authorities as they have vowed to step up security measures and prevent further insecurity.

He said that the major ambition behind such terrorist attacks is to spark sectarian war between the Shia and Sunni groups.