UNITED NATIONS, Nov. 7 (Xinhua) -- The UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan on Tuesday released a report which shows a sharp increase in attacks against places of worship, religious leaders and worshippers in Afghanistan, particularly against Shi'a Muslims.
The report also documents the targeted killings of religious scholars and leaders by anti-government forces as well as the targeted killing of security personnel amidst other worshippers inside mosques, Stephane Dujarric, spokesman for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, said at a daily news briefing.
Among the attacks cited in the report was an October suicide bombing in which the attacker first lobbed a grenade into the women's section of the Imam-e-Zaman Shiite mosque in the Afghan capital, Kabul, then detonated his suicide vest amid the worshippers, killing 57 and wounding 55.
The Islamic State group claimed responsibility for the attack.
The report ends with a series of recommendations, including a call for anti-government elements to immediately cease targeting worshippers and religious leaders.
Since January 2016, the Mission has recorded 850 civilian casualties in 51 attacks targeting places of worship, religious leaders and worshippers, sDujarric cited the report as saying.
"This is nearly double the number of documented attacks of these types between 2009 and 2015," he said.
