Press Release: The Targeted Attack Against Civilians in Herat, 10 April 2026

Press Release: The Targeted Attack Against Civilians in Herat

Date: April 10, 2026

The Afghanistan Human Rights Center (AHRC) strongly condemns the attack carried out today by armed individuals against civilians in the village of “Deh Miri,” located in Injil District of Herat Province. The Center expresses its deep sympathy and solidarity with the victims of this attack and conveys its profound concern over the recurring pattern of targeted assaults against ethnic and religious minorities in the country.

Today, Friday, 10 April, a number of unidentified armed individuals riding motorcycles opened fire on civilians—most of whom were residents of the village of Deh Miri—who had gathered near a recreational area. As a result of this attack, more than 30 people were killed and dozens of others were injured. Women and children are reported to be among the victims. Eyewitnesses stated that the armed assailants first separated men from women and executed them in front of women and children. They then opened fire on the women and children as they attempted to flee upon witnessing the scene. Further details of the incident remain unclear at this time.

The village of Deh Miri in Injil District is predominantly inhabited by members of the Shiite community. Therefore, there are concerns that this attack, like previous incidents, may have been carried out in a targeted and systematic manner against Shiites. No group has yet claimed responsibility for the attack.

For more than a decade, Hazaras and Shiites have been subjected to targeted, widespread, and systematic attacks by terrorist groups, particularly ISIS. The perpetrators of these crimes have targeted civilians in schools, educational centers, mosques, sports facilities, hospitals, wedding halls, markets, and along public roads. To date, more than 4,300 people have been killed or injured as a result of these attacks.

These assaults have predominantly occurred in Shiite-majority areas, and in some cases, victims have been abducted from public transportation routes and later killed. The scale and methods of most of these attacks indicate that they have been organized in a widespread and deliberate manner against a specific ethnic and religious group. In addition to their systematic and targeted nature, the majority of these attacks have been carried out with extreme brutality and cruelty.

Under international human rights law, targeted and systematic attacks against a specific ethnic or religious group constitute acts that may amount to crimes against humanity. If it is established that the perpetrators intentionally targeted an ethnic or religious group with the aim of wholly or partially destroying it, such acts may also be classified as genocide.

We call upon the United Nations and the United Nations Human Rights Council to promptly investigate this attack and to take effective measures to prevent such incidents and ensure the protection of civilians.

Furthermore, the Afghanistan Human Rights Center calls on the International Criminal Court (ICC) to investigate the ongoing targeted and systematic attacks against ethnic and religious groups in Afghanistan and to bring the perpetrators of these crimes to justice.

The Afghanistan Human Rights Center reaffirms its commitment to documenting all human rights violations and to advocating for accountability through international mechanisms.