Terrorist Attack on the Sayed Al-Shuhada School in Kabul

On May 8th, 2021, a vicious attack was carried out on the Sayed Al-Shuhada school in the Dashte Barchi district of Afghanistan's capital city of Kabul.  The Dashte Barchi district is primarily inhabited by Hazaras, an ethnic minority in Afghanistan.  This community has been targeted by terrorist groups in the past, mainly due to their opposition to the rule of the Taliban and that they're primarily Shiite Muslims.  This attack on the Hazaras is the latest in a series of vicious attacks over the last few years.  Attacks that have targeted schools, tutoring centers, even maternity wards.  This vicious attack claimed the lives of 85 people and wounded 147 more.  The majority of the victims were young, school-age girls, ranging from ages 11-15.

Funeral for the Victims of the Sayed Al-Shuhada School Bombing

The attack shows that it was a carefully coordinated attack.  A car bomb was parked near the school which teaches in three shifts: the first and third for boys, and the second for girls.  The bomb was detonated during the second shift, the time that the girls classes were in session.  As the girls fled from the school after the bomb's detonation, two more IED's went off.  Though Taliban leaders deny any involvement in the attack and blamed ISIS, it has all the patterns of a Taliban attack.  The Taliban and other extremists in the region have not only focused attacks on the Hazara community due to their Shiite faith and support for the current Afghan government, but the militants, especially the Taliban, have been notorious for attacking girls who desire educational and societal advancement as they believe this is a violation of Sharia Law.  As it stands, only 1/5 of all the women in Afghanistan are literate, but for militant groups like the Taliban, even that is too many.  Women have few rights in Afghanistan, and the Taliban wants to ensure that they have no rights at all.  

For years I have been made aware of the Taliban's terrible repression toward women, their willingness to beat, rape, even murder women who dared to speak out for themselves and seek an education.  Reading Malala Yousafzai's book proved to be a powerful eye-opening experience.  When I made my first trip to Pakistan in December of 2017 I discussed Malala's ordeal with members of the Pakistani Christian community.  They told me that they considered Malala to be a hero, but also told me that the sad truth is that there are thousands of Malala's out there, and most of them don't get their story heard, and sadly, these girls will never have the chance to tell theirs.   

Hazaras Digging Graves for the Slain Girls

We cannot under this terrible atrocity, but we can honor them by continuing their fight, which is what Bridge of Grace Missions seeks to do.  In August of 2019 we officially opened our new school, providing free education to over 130 children, both boys and girls, of all faiths who would otherwise be working as slaves in brick kilns.  These children receive a free education that they could not otherwise receive due to their dire poverty situation.  However, to keep these children in school and out of slavery, we require donations to ensure that our school keeps operating for free.  

Bridge of Grace Elementary School

By donating to our GoFundMe and supporting our school you will help us continuing to fight for the dream that Malala is still fighting for and what these little girls gave their lives for, the right for all children in the world to receive an education!


Sources:

Nossiter, Adam.  "Why Do We Deserve to Die?  Kabul's Hazaras Bury Their Daughters."  The New York Times.  May 09, 2021.  Accessed from  https://www.nytimes.com/2021/05/09/world/europe/afghanistan-school-attack-hazaras.html

Deaton, Jennifer & Sheena McKenzie.  "Death Toll Rises to 85 in Afghanistan Girls' School Bomb Attack."  CNN.  May 10, 2021.  Accessed from https://www.cnn.com/2021/05/09/asia/afghanistan-girls-school-attack-intl-hnk/index.html

"Afghanistant: Top UN Officials Strongly Condemn 'Heinous' Attack on Girls School."  UN News.  May 12, 2021.  Accessed from https://news.un.org/en/story/2021/05/1091842.

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