Background Briefing

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Appendix B: Recent Attacks on Clerics

Several high-level clerics who vocally supported the government or the election process have been attacked and killed in the months leading up to the September 18 elections.  These include:

1. Mullah Abdul Hayee

On January 15, 2005, Hayee was injured when an explosive device was detonated near him in a mosque in Tirin Kot, Uruzgon province.68

2. Maulavi Abdullah Fayaz

Head of the Council of Clerics of Kandahar, Fayaz was shot dead in his office on May 29 by suspected Taliban supporters.  Taliban spokesman Latif Hakimi said members of the Taliban were responsible for the killing.69

3. Maulavi Mohammad Musbah

Musbah was shot by suspected Taliban insurgents on July 3 in Kandahar while walking out of his home.  He died later the same day.70

4. Maulavi Saleh Mohammed

Mohammed was the head of the religious council of Helmand province. He was shot dead on July 13 by two men on a motorcycle as he left a mosque.71 Local officials blamed Taliban loyalists for the killing.72

5. Malik Agha

Agha, a tribal elder, was seized by armed men on July 15 in Attaghar district of Zabul province, taken to the neighbouring Zawana district and hanged in a tree.73  Taliban spokesman Latif Hakimi said the Taliban was responsible for the attack and accused Agha of being a spy for Americans forces in Afghanistan.74

6. Mullah Abdullah Malang

Malang, deputy head of the religious council of Panjwaey district, Kandahar, was shot dead by two men on a motorcycle as he made his way home from a mosque on August 21.75  Local officials blamed the Taliban for the attack.76

7. Mullah Amir Mohammed Akhund

Akhund was stabbed to death on September 1 in Helmand province.77 Taliban spokesman Latif Hakimi claimed the Taliban was responsible for the killing.78





[68] “Cleric escapes Taliban’s murder attempt in Uruzgon,” Deutsche Presse-Agentur, January 17, 2005.

[69] Carlotta Gall, “Senior Cleric is murdered in Kandahar, Anti-taliban stance suspected as motive,” New York Times, May 30, 2005.

[70] “Taliban gun down pro-government cleric in southern Afghanistan,” Agence France-Presse, July 3, 2005; “Afghan cleric killed in Kandahar,” BBC News Online, July 4, 2005.

[71] “17 Rebels, Cleric killed in Afghanistan,” Associated Press, July 13, 2005.

[72] “US, Afghan forces kill 17 in clashes in southern Afghanistan,” Agence France-Presse, July 13, 2005.

[73] “Taliban hang Afghan tribal chief,” Reuters, July 16, 2005.

[74] “Taliban hang tribal elder in southern Afghanistan,” Agence France-Presse, July 16, 2005.

[75] “Taliban shoot cleric dead in southern Afghanistan,” Agence France-Presse, August 21, 2005.

[76] Carlotta Gall, “Attacks increasing as Afghan vote nears, year is already deadliest there for GIs,” New York Times, August 22, 2005; “Suspected Taliban kill pro-Afghan government cleric,” Reuters, August 21, 2005.

[77] “Cleric killed, five people wounded in separate attacks in Afghansitan,” Agence France-Presse, September 3, 2005.

[78] “Taleban kill cleric for election involvement in southern Afghan province,” BBC News Online, September 2, 2005.


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