Imam Reza shrine stabbings | |
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![]() The
Imam Reza Shrine, where the stabbing attack took place | |
Location | Imam Reza Shrine, Mashhad, Iran |
Date | 5 April 2022 14:16 ( IRDT, UTC+04:30) |
Target | Shia Muslims |
Attack type | Stabbing |
Weapons | Knife |
Deaths | 2 |
Injured | 1 |
Perpetrator | Abdullatif Muradi |
Motive | Anti-Shi'ism |
On 5 April 2022, a stabbing attack took place at the Imam Reza Shrine in Mashhad, Iran, killing two Shia clerics and wounding a third. The perpetrator, identified as foreign national Abdullatif Moradi, was immediately arrested along with six others accused of assisting him. The victims were active members of non-profit constructing and cultural communities. [1]
At 14:16 on 5 April 2022, Abdullatif Moradi walked into the shrine and approached three members of the clergy. [2] He stabbed Mohammad Aslani about 20 times, and Aslani died almost instantly after being stabbed. He stabbed two others, who were hospitalized but reportedly in stable condition. [3] [4] [5] [6] However, one of the injured, a cleric identified as Sadegh Daraee, died of his injuries at the Shahid Kamyab Hospital in Mashhad. [7] [8]
In a video that showed the aftermath of the incident, Shia pilgrims were seen holding Moradi down, after which the authorities took him in custody. [3] Two clergymen were seen splayed on the gray marbled floor of the shrine, covered in blood, in footage shared on social media. [5] Besides Moradi, six people were arrested afterward; two of those were brothers of Moradi. [3]
The attack took place on the third day of the Ramadan, [9] a holy month that attracts Muslim worshippers to communal prayers at mosques from across country. [5]
The attacker was Abdullatif Moradi, a 21-year-old ethnic Uzbek from Afghanistan, [10] who illegally crossed into Iran in 2021 across the Iran–Pakistan border, and was living around Mashhad. Moradi was called as a " Takfiri who viewed Shia Muslims as heretics and believed their blood should be spilled". [3] Moradi and his brother worked for a transport company in Mashhad. He lived in Mehrabad district of Mashhad and was reportedly active in social networks under the names of "Abdullatif al-Salafi", "Hassan Moradi", and "Abulaqib al-Mowahid", criticizing Shia Muslims and promoting Takfiri thoughts. His "Abdullatif al-Salafi" alias indicates that he was a Salafi. [2] He was executed by hanging in June 2022. [11]
The funeral of Mohammad Aslani was held in Mashhad on 7 April 2022. The participants marched from Shohada Square to the Imam Reza Shrine. The people participating in the funeral shouted " Hossein, Hossein is our slogan", "Labayk ya Imam Reza" and " Death to America". [12] Afghan immigrants also took part in the funeral. Aslani was buried in Imam Reza shrine, beside the victims of the 1994 Ashura bombing incident in Imam Reza shrine. [13]
The funeral for the second victim, Sadegh Daraee, was also held in Mashhad. He was buried near Mohammad Aslani. [7]
Imam Reza shrine stabbings | |
---|---|
![]() The
Imam Reza Shrine, where the stabbing attack took place | |
Location | Imam Reza Shrine, Mashhad, Iran |
Date | 5 April 2022 14:16 ( IRDT, UTC+04:30) |
Target | Shia Muslims |
Attack type | Stabbing |
Weapons | Knife |
Deaths | 2 |
Injured | 1 |
Perpetrator | Abdullatif Muradi |
Motive | Anti-Shi'ism |
On 5 April 2022, a stabbing attack took place at the Imam Reza Shrine in Mashhad, Iran, killing two Shia clerics and wounding a third. The perpetrator, identified as foreign national Abdullatif Moradi, was immediately arrested along with six others accused of assisting him. The victims were active members of non-profit constructing and cultural communities. [1]
At 14:16 on 5 April 2022, Abdullatif Moradi walked into the shrine and approached three members of the clergy. [2] He stabbed Mohammad Aslani about 20 times, and Aslani died almost instantly after being stabbed. He stabbed two others, who were hospitalized but reportedly in stable condition. [3] [4] [5] [6] However, one of the injured, a cleric identified as Sadegh Daraee, died of his injuries at the Shahid Kamyab Hospital in Mashhad. [7] [8]
In a video that showed the aftermath of the incident, Shia pilgrims were seen holding Moradi down, after which the authorities took him in custody. [3] Two clergymen were seen splayed on the gray marbled floor of the shrine, covered in blood, in footage shared on social media. [5] Besides Moradi, six people were arrested afterward; two of those were brothers of Moradi. [3]
The attack took place on the third day of the Ramadan, [9] a holy month that attracts Muslim worshippers to communal prayers at mosques from across country. [5]
The attacker was Abdullatif Moradi, a 21-year-old ethnic Uzbek from Afghanistan, [10] who illegally crossed into Iran in 2021 across the Iran–Pakistan border, and was living around Mashhad. Moradi was called as a " Takfiri who viewed Shia Muslims as heretics and believed their blood should be spilled". [3] Moradi and his brother worked for a transport company in Mashhad. He lived in Mehrabad district of Mashhad and was reportedly active in social networks under the names of "Abdullatif al-Salafi", "Hassan Moradi", and "Abulaqib al-Mowahid", criticizing Shia Muslims and promoting Takfiri thoughts. His "Abdullatif al-Salafi" alias indicates that he was a Salafi. [2] He was executed by hanging in June 2022. [11]
The funeral of Mohammad Aslani was held in Mashhad on 7 April 2022. The participants marched from Shohada Square to the Imam Reza Shrine. The people participating in the funeral shouted " Hossein, Hossein is our slogan", "Labayk ya Imam Reza" and " Death to America". [12] Afghan immigrants also took part in the funeral. Aslani was buried in Imam Reza shrine, beside the victims of the 1994 Ashura bombing incident in Imam Reza shrine. [13]
The funeral for the second victim, Sadegh Daraee, was also held in Mashhad. He was buried near Mohammad Aslani. [7]