Hundreds of people gathered in the western city of Herat on Tuesday to protest a deadly attack on civilians, but Taliban restricted the scale of the demonstrations, according to local sources.
The rally followed a shooting on Friday, April 10, in Injil district, where gunmen opened fire on civilians near a shrine, killing at least 13 people and wounding nine others, according to local accounts. The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan has reported 11 dead and 11 wounded.
Witnesses said demonstrators carried the bodies of victims through parts of the city and chanted slogans condemning the attack, which sources previously said largely targeted members of the Shiite community.
The gathering reflected growing anger and fear among residents, with calls for accountability and stronger security measures.
But plans for a larger march were scaled back after Taliban local officials intervened, sources said. Residents had intended to hold a mass funeral procession on Tuesday, carrying victims’ bodies from a central mosque in Herat to a nearby shrine, followed by a citywide protest.
According to those accounts, Noor Ahmad Islamjar, the Taliban’s governor in Herat, summoned local Shiite religious leaders and community elders on Monday, April 13, and urged them to cancel the planned march.
Sources said the governor insisted that only burial ceremony be held at a designated shrine and warned that Taliban forces would not provide security for a large protest.
As a result, the demonstration took place in a more limited form.
No group has claimed responsibility for the attack, which has drawn widespread condemnation domestically and internationally. Some political figures have blamed Taliban for failing to ensure security.
The assault is the latest in a series of attacks in Afghanistan targeting civilians and, in some cases, religious minorities, underscoring ongoing concerns about their protection.
