The Supreme Religious Authority: Islamic countries and the international community must fulfill their responsibilities and not leave the defenseless Afghan people alone

The head office of the Supreme Religious Authority, Grand Ayatollah Sayed Ali al-Sistani in Najaf, issued a statement denouncing the terrorist attack that targeted the Sayed al-Shuhada Secondary School for Girls in Kabul, killing more than 63 martyrs and 150 wounded students.

 

The following is the translation of the statement:

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful (We belong to God and to Him we shall return)

 

The horrific crime that killed a large number of students of the Sayed al-Shuhada School in Kabul during the day in the blessed month of Ramadan, and resulted in the martyrdom of dozens of them and wounding many others, bled the heart of every free and conscious person, and filled it with grief and sorrow.

Despite what defenseless civilians have suffered in Afghanistan from brutal attacks by extremist groups over the past years, this crime is exceptional in its kind and is more painful in many ways.

We extend our deepest condolences to the honorable and persecuted Afghan people, especially the bereaved families, during this great tragedy, asking the Almighty to grant patience to the families of the martyrs and to bless the wounded with a speedy recovery.

In light of the difficult situation that the beloved Afghanistan is going through and given the possibility of extremist groups gaining more strength in the coming period, national unity and solidarity among all ethnic groups and nationalities in this country has become more necessary than ever before, and what is required of the government, national leaders, religious leaders and senior members of the society is to work to find a way to protect civilians - especially ethnic and religious minorities - against the suppression and crimes of terrorist groups, and to take the necessary measures in this regard.

Moreover, the Islamic countries and the international community must fulfill their responsibilities and not leave the defenseless Afghan people alone in these difficult circumstances. Also, they should not allow the implementation of the evil plan drawn up by the conscience of evil for the future of this country, which, if it were to be implemented, would lead to the death of more innocent people by way of criminal attacks by extremist groups.

 

We ask Allah the Almighty to help the people of Afghanistan.

Ramadan 27, 1442

Office of Grand Ayatollah Sistani

Najaf, Iraq