{"id":4863,"date":"2022-09-30T12:00:00","date_gmt":"2022-09-30T12:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gulftimes.ae\/afghanistan-un-condemns-callous-suicide-attack-on-education-centre\/"},"modified":"2022-09-30T12:00:00","modified_gmt":"2022-09-30T12:00:00","slug":"afghanistan-un-condemns-callous-suicide-attack-on-education-centre","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gulftimes.ae\/?p=4863","title":{"rendered":"Afghanistan: UN condemns \u2018callous\u2019 suicide attack on education centre |"},"content":{"rendered":"


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Dozens more were wounded at the Kaaj tuition centre, in the Dasht-e-Barchi area in the western part of the capital, which the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) noted in a tweet<\/a>, is a Hazara and Shia-majority area.<\/p>\n

No group has yet claimed the attack, but affiliates of the terrorist group ISIL, or Daesh, have often targeted the Hazara minority in Afghanistan.<\/p>\n

Appalling outrage<\/strong><\/h2>\n

\u201cThe UN family condemns the outrage, extending its deep condolences to all those in mourning<\/strong>\u201d, said the mission.<\/p>\n

News reports said that the attacker shot at guards outside the facility, and then entered a classroom before detonating a bomb. Hundreds of students are reported to have been in the room at the time.<\/p>\n

UN Children\u2019s Fund, UNICEF, issued a statement saying it was \u201cappalled the by horrific attack\u201d<\/strong> early on Friday morning.<\/p>\n

\u2018Heinous act\u2019<\/strong><\/h2>\n

\u201cThis heinous act claimed the lives of dozens of adolescent girls and boys and severely injured many more. The victims were practising for the entrance exam to university.<\/p>\n

“UNICEF offers its heartfelt condolences to all families affected by this terrible event and wishes a swift recovery to the injured.\u201d<\/p>\n

The agency said that any violence in any educational environment was \u201cnever acceptable\u201d.<\/p>\n

“Such places must be havens of peace where children can learn<\/strong>, be with friends, and feel safe as they build skills for their futures\u201d, the statement continued.<\/p>\n

“Children and adolescents are not, and must never be, the target of violence. Once again, UNICEF reminds all parties in Afghanistan to adhere to and respect human rights and ensure the safety and protection of all children and young people.”<\/p>\n

The district where the attack happened is a predominantly Shia area and home to the minority Hazara community, who are historically one of the most severely persecuted groups in Afghanistan.<\/p>\n

This abuse has not stopped since the Taliban seized power in coup in August last year, according to a report by UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Afghanistan Richard Bennett.<\/p>\n

Ethnic dimension<\/strong><\/h2>\n

In his report to the Human Rights Council on 6 September, Mr. Bennett detailed how Hazara communities have been subjected to multiple forms of discrimination<\/strong>, negatively affecting their economic, social, cultural and human rights.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere are reports of arbitrary arrests, torture and other ill-treatment, summary executions and enforced disappearances<\/strong>,\u201d the Special Rapporteur insisted. \u201cIn addition, an increase in inflammatory speech is being reported, both online and in some mosques during Friday prayers, including calling for Hazaras to be killed.\u201d<\/p>\n

The top rights expert, who works in an independent capacity, also explained how Afghanistan\u2019s de facto rulers had appointed Pashtuns \u201cto senior positions in government structures in Hazara dominated provinces\u201d.<\/p>\n

This had led to forcible evictions of Hazaras and imposed religious taxation contrary to Shia principles, Mr. Bennett said.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n