2019 Kabul Mosque Bombing

On 24 May 2019, at around 01:20pm local time (08:50 GMT), an explosion tore through the Al-Taqwa mosque in Kabul, Afghanistan, during Friday prayers. The explosive device had been concealed inside the mosque's microphone, which was used by the imam to lead prayers. At least three people were killed, including the mosque's imam, Samiullah Rayhan, and nearly 20 others were injured; other reports stated that two people were killed and at least 16 were wounded.

Samiullah Rayhan, 36, was a father of four and served as imam of the Al-Taqwa mosque. Beyond his religious duties, he worked as a parliamentary adviser and hosted a daily religious television program. His public support for the families of fallen Afghan soldiers, his condemnation of Taliban suicide bombings, his advocacy for women's rights, and his support for cooperation between Western military forces and the Afghan government were cited as likely reasons he was targeted.

A district police official, identified as Jan Agha, said the bomb had been fixed inside the microphone used by the imam. A police spokesman, Firdaws Faramarz, said the explosion occurred near the altar area of the mosque, the location from which the imam led prayers.

Responsibility for the attack was disputed. Nasrat Rahimi, a spokesman for the Afghan Ministry of Interior Affairs, stated that the Taliban was responsible, noting that the group has regularly staged attacks in the area. However, a Taliban spokesman denied involvement. No group or individual had claimed responsibility for the bombing.

After the Taliban's appointment of a new leader, Mawlawi Haibatullah Akhundzada, attacks targeting religious figures in Afghanistan had increased. The New York Times described the situation for religious scholars in Afghanistan as difficult, since supporting either the government or the Taliban could result in being targeted by the opposing side.

President Ashraf Ghani condemned the mosque bombing as a terrorist act.

No individuals have been publicly named as charged, convicted, or acquitted in connection with this attack, and the case remains unattributed to a specific perpetrator.