Afghanistan: mosque suicide bombing condemned

Amnesty International has condemned a suicide bombing earlier today at the Eid Gah mosque in Maymana, the capital of Faryab province in Afghanistan.

At least 40 people were killed in the attack as people were leaving Eid prayers this morning. While senior provincial government and security officials were present at the prayers, the vast majority of victims appear to have been civilians - many were Women's rights's rightss rights's rights's rights's rights and child beggars waiting outside the mosque.

The Taleban has not claimed responsibility for this attack, however the UN has previously said that attacks like today’s are consistent with previous patterns of Taleban attacks. The Taleban leader Mullah Omar has repeatedly urged his movement to prevent civilian casualties - most recently his Eid statement earlier this month.

Amnesty International Asia-Pacific Deputy Director Polly Truscott said:

“This attack has once again underscored the disregard armed groups in the Afghanistan conflict hold for civilian lives and places of worship.

“Amnesty International urges all armed groups to stop using civilians as human shields, or harming civilians in indiscriminate and disproportionate attacks in violation of international law. The use of so-called improvised explosive devices (IEDs) or suicide bombers in areas where there is a danger of civilian casualties must stop.

“Amnesty International once again calls on the International Criminal Court to investigate the conflict in Afghanistan.”