Iran Strongly Condemns Assassination of Afghan Shiite Cleric

In a Monday statement, Qassemi expressed regret over the assassination of Mohammad-Jafar Tawakkoli, a religious scholar from the western province of Herat, and said such attacks which have recently gained momentum seem to be carried out with the aim of creating division among various groups and religions in Afghanistan.

He then expressed sympathy with the family of the Shiite cleric and said the Islamic Republic remains confident that, like in the past, the vigilant Muslim nation of Afghanistan will foil the plots hatched by enemies and those who seek to divide the Afghan people.

Qassemi also noted that the enemies will fail to break the unity of religious groups in Afghanistan.

The prominent cleric was assassinated Sunday night by unknown gunmen. People of Herat have organized sit-ins and protests in front of the governor-general’s office to demand an investigation into the incident.

Assassination of Shiite clerics is not new in Afghanistan. Sheik Abdulvahed Saberi and Yuonos Alavi were also assassinated in previous years and their murderers have not yet been identified.

Afghan President Ashraf Ghani have condemned the killing of known religious scholars and called it an unforgivable crime.