Prominent Cleric Killed in Herat, Second in a Week

Mawlavi Mohammad Kababyani, a prominent cleric, was slain by unknown armed men in front of his house in Anjil district of Herat.

“Any ideology or any scholar who tries to give hope and peace to the people–or support the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan–is being targeted,” said Sayed Wahid Qatali, the governor of Herat.

Clerics in Herat condemned the assassination.

“Two people riding on motorbike stood in front of him and said they had a question, and then they shot at Mawlavi and killed a vibrant and prominent scholar of this country,” said Sayed Abu Bakr.

“What was his fault–to be killed for? Mawlavi Kababyani was always trying to promote justice and peace among the people,” said Mawlavi Hibatullah Fazeli, a scholar in Herat.

Mawlavi Kababyani had a history of raising his voice against killings and violence in Afghanistan.

“We have lost six scholars since last year in Herat. There is no justification for killing scholars and civilians from an Islamic perspective,” said Abdul Khaliq Haqqani, the head of the Herat religious affairs department.

Thursday’s targeted killing marks the second in a week in Herat.

No individual or group has so far claimed responsibility for the attack.

On May 26, scholar Mawlavi Abdul Karim Hanafi was assassinated in Herat. Police at the time said that he was killed by armed robbers after he refused to surrender his car, but local people rejected this explanation of the incident.