As many as three people, including a child, were killed in Taliban gunfire while people were marking Ashura in the central Ghazni province of Afghanistan, sources told Amu TV.
Sources said the Taliban opened fire on Ashura mourners on Friday in parts of the Nawabad area of Ghazni City.
Six people – including two children – were also wounded in the incident, sources added.
The Taliban, however, has not commented in this regard so far.
In response to the reported gunfire during the commemoration in Ghazni, a number of women in Kabul took to the streets to protest.
The demonstrators voiced their frustration and concern over the violence that has disrupted the peaceful religious observance.
The Muharram commemoration was held with restrictions imposed by the Taliban this year.
The Taliban’s directives prohibited the raising of Muharram flags in cities, and the establishment of Muharram mosques and gates, and in some areas, they prevented women from attending mourning ceremonies.
Internet services of certain telecommunications networks were also disrupted in the western part of Kabul and in some other regions of the country on the day of Ashura.
Ashura, the 10th day of Muharram is held in mourning for Imam Hussein, the Prophet Mohammad’s (PBUH) grandson every year across Islamic countries.
Imam Hussein died in the battle of Karbala in A.D. 680.
