Militants kill eight coalmine workers from Hazara minority in Afghanistan

Eight coalmine workers in Tala wa Barfak district in Baghlan have been shot dead by a group of fighters affiliated to the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIS).

Many others were also injured in the incident that happened Friday afternoon, reports the Tolo News.

Tala wa Barfak district governor Faiz Mohammad Amiri told TOLOnews said that the workers were on the way to their homes when they were attacked by masked militants in Anarak village in the district.

Meanwhile, a number of Baghlan residents said the coalmine workers are from the Hazara community, a Shia minority.

Early reports indicated 13 coal miners were gunned down but on Saturday officials said eight had died and three were wounded. Three others managed to escape.

One of the survivors, Mohammad Hussain, said the reason was due to their beliefs.

He said the gunmen called them non-believers.

The cold-blooded killing has sparked a massive outcry in the country with the Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission (AIHRC), Parliament Members (MPs), the Ulema, Civil Society Activists and government condemning the incident.