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2011 Mazar-i-Sharif attack

Coordinates: 36°42′N 67°07′E / 36.700°N 67.117°E / 36.700; 67.117
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This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Bevinbell (talk | contribs) at 11:12, 6 May 2013 (hard to verify non-english sources - also, in April 2011, there was no American Consulate in Mazar, so story maybe translated wrong?). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

2011 Mazar-i-Sharif attack
DateApril 1, 2011
LocationMazar-i-Sharif, Afghanistan
Coordinates36°42′N 67°07′E / 36.700°N 67.117°E / 36.700; 67.117
DeathsAt least 14[1]
Non-fatal injuries20

The 2011 Mazar-i-Sharif attack occurred on April 1, 2011 when a group of demonstrators attacked the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) compound in Mazar-i-Sharif, Afghanistan, killing seven foreigners, including three United Nations staff members and four Nepalese guards. Additionally, five protesters died in the violence.

Incident

Antecedent

The violence began as a protest against the burning of the Quran in the United States, overseen by an American pastor,[2] Terry Jones, on March 20, 2011.[3] The incident was denounced by President Hamid Karzai in a press release on March 24,[4][5] and again in a speech on March 31.[6] News report that most Afghans learned of the incident through Karzai's announcement.[7]

Riot

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A riot erupted in Mazar-i-Sharif on April 1, 2011 during the protest over the burning of the Qur'an in the US.[8] Estimates of the number of protesters ranged from "hundreds" to as many as 2,000.[8][9] The protest began near the city's Blue Mosque shortly after Friday prayer,[9] with protesters chanting "Death to the USA, death to Israel."[10] During the sermon, which is part of the Friday prayer, worshipers were told by three mullahs to begin protesting in favor of the arrest of Pastor Terry Jones, who led the Qur'an burning.[11]

Atta Muhammad Nur, the provincial governor of Balkh, said that some Taliban insurgents were among the protesters who used the event as an opportunity.[11] Protesters were able to overwhelm forces of the Afghan National Police and UN guards; a local police official said that "[police] tried to stop them, but protesters began stoning the building and finally the situation got out of control." The mob burned down a part of the United Nations compound, toppled guard towers and heaved blocks of cement down from the walls. It was reported that the victims were killed by weapons that the demonstrators had wrestled away from the United Nations guards. Around twenty seven people, who Nur said were "insurgents,"[8] were later arrested.[11]

Afghan National Security Forces turned down an offer of assistance from PRT Mazar-i-Sharif during the protests, according to K.Bringéus at Sweden's Embassy in Kabul.[12]

Casualties

A UN spokesperson said that "three international UNAMA (United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan) staff members were killed, and four international armed security guards were killed."[9] Two of the UN dead were reported to have been beheaded.[13] It was the deadliest attack ever against United Nations personnel in Afghanistan.[8]

The three UN staff workers who were killed were Swedish human rights officer Joakim Dungel, Romanian political affairs officer Filaret Motco, and Royal Norwegian Air Force officer Lt. Colonel Siri Skare.[14] Skare was a military advisor and the first female Norwegian military pilot in her country's history.[15] The four Nepalese guards who lost their lives defending the compound were Dil Prasad Gurung, Chhabi Lal Purja Pun, Min Bahadur Thapa, and Narayan Bahadur Thapa Magar.

In addition, five protesters were killed, with twenty wounded.[2]

Response

After the incident, a state of emergency was declared in Mazar-i-Sharif.[9] Roads near the city were blocked, and cars were inspected by army and police forces.[9] Staffan de Mistura, the senior UN representative in Afghanistan, traveled to Mazar-i-Sharif hours after the incident.[16]

UN regulations state that after attacks on UN-personnel, recall (of staff) and suspension of UN operations, have to be considered.[16] (An attack in 2009, which killed five UN workers, led to relocation of workers (to Dubai), temporarily.)[16] Despite these regulations, a spokesperson said that there was "not a question of us pulling out. The U.N. is here to stay."[2]

Reactions

  •  United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon said that the incident was "an outrageous and cowardly attack against UN staff, which cannot be justified under any circumstances and I condemn it in the strongest possible terms."[17]
  •  Afghanistan Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid said "The Taliban had nothing to do with this, it was a pure act of responsible Muslims."[1]
  •  United States President Barack Obama said in a statement that "I condemn in the strongest possible terms the attack on the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan [...] I offer my deepest condolences to those injured and killed, as well as to their loved ones."[18] United States legislators, including Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, also condemned both the burning and the violence in reaction to it.[19]

References

  1. ^ a b "Afghanistan: Deadly Kandahar protest at Koran burning". BBC News Online. 2 April 2011. Archived from the original on 4 April 2011. Retrieved 2 April 2011.
  2. ^ a b c "Up to 20 U.N. staff killed in north Afghan city". Reuters. 1 April 2011. Archived from the original on 1 April 2011. Retrieved 1 April 2011.
  3. ^ Sherwell, Philip (2 April 2011). "Pastor Terry Jones: 'I may put Mohammed on trial'". The Daily Telegraph. London.
  4. ^ "Hamid Karzai calls on US Congress to condemn pastor's Qur'an burning". The Guardian. 3 April 2011. Archived from the original on 13 April 2011. Retrieved 5 April 2011. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  5. ^ "Karzai's role in protests over Koran burning again reveals divide with U.S." The Washington Post. 4 April 2011. Retrieved 5 April 2011.
  6. ^ "Why did Karzai spotlight Terry Jones's Quran burning?". The Christian Science Monitor. 5 April 2011. Archived from the original on 15 May 2011. Retrieved 5 April 2011. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  7. ^ Trofimov, Yaroslav. (2011-04-26) Petraeus Says Quran Burning Endangers War Effort - WSJ.com. Online.wsj.com. Retrieved on 2011-04-30.
  8. ^ a b c d Nelson, Dean (1 April 2011). "Seven killed in worst-ever attack on UN workers in Afghanistan". London: The Telegraph. Archived from the original on 1 April 2011. Retrieved 1 April 2011.
  9. ^ a b c d e "UN staff killed during protest in northern Afghanistan". BBC News Online. 1 April 2011. Archived from the original on 1 April 2011. Retrieved 1 April 2011.
  10. ^ Afghan deaths in UN attack. Euronews. 1 April 2011. Event occurs at 0:0:15. Afghan police fired into the air in a bid to disperse the protesters, who were chanting "Death to the USA, death to Israel," as they gathered for Friday prayers.
  11. ^ a b c Najafizada, Enayat; Nordland, Rod (1 April 2011). "Afghans Angry Over Florida Koran Burning Kill U.N. Staff". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 1 April 2011. Retrieved 1 April 2011.
  12. ^ http://www.vg.no/nyheter/utenriks/artikkel.php?artid=10083790
  13. ^ "Two beheaded and six shot in attack on UN Afghan base". The Scotsman. 2 April 2011. Archived from the original on 4 April 2011. Retrieved 4 April 2011.
  14. ^ Associated Press (3 April 2011). "UN Workers Killed By Afgan Mob in Bunker". National Public Radio.
  15. ^ Sandelson, Michael (7 April 2011). "Military mourns fallen officer". The Foreigner (newspaper). Retrieved 10 April 2011.
  16. ^ a b c Boone, Jon (1 April 2011). "Afghanistan: United Nations mission rocked by mob killings". London: The Guardian. Archived from the original on 1 April 2011. Retrieved 1 April 2011.
  17. ^ "UN condemns deadly attack against staff in northern Afghan city". UN News Centre. 1 April 2011. Archived from the original on 1 April 2011. Retrieved 1 April 2011.
  18. ^ "Statement by the President Following the Attack on UNAMA". The White House. 1 April 2011. Archived from the original on 1 April 2011. Retrieved 1 April 2011.
  19. ^ "US Legislators Condemn Quran Burning, Violent Reaction". Voice of America. 3 April 2011. Archived from the original on 4 April 2011. Retrieved 4 April 2011.

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