Afghan Shiites on high alert for attacks ahead of Islamic holy day

KABUL: Nasim Amiri quit his job selling vegetables to take up arms to defend his local mosque in Kabul, one of hundreds of civilians recruited to protect Shiite religious sites ahead of a key Islamic holy day.

Shiites across war-weary Afghanistan are bracing themselves for potential sectarian attacks as they prepare to commemorate Ashura which falls this weekend.

Taliban and Islamic State jihadists, who belong to the rival Sunni branch of Islam, have repeatedly targeted the minority Shiite community in recent years and there are fears they will strike again.

Criticised for failing to protect Shiites, who number around three million in overwhelmingly Sunni Afghanistan, the government has taken the unprecedented step of training and arming over 400 civilians to help defend mosques in Kabul.

The move, criticised by some Muslim leaders as inadequate, highlights the impotence of Afghan security forces struggling to get the upper hand in the fight against the Taliban and other Islamist groups.

The plan may be expanded to more cities.

Amiri has spent decades living near Baqir ul Ulom mosque, which was attacked last year, and knows ‘almost every’ worshipper who comes to pray in its cavernous halls.

“I will stand against any threats, I don’t mind dying for my people,” said 43-year- old Amiri, wearing a traditional salwar kameez.

“We are not true Muslims if we don’t go to the mosque during Muharram and for that we need security.” Ashura – the most important Shiite observance – falls on the 10th day of Muharram, which is the mourning period for the seventh- century killing of Imam Hussein, the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad. — AFP