At least eight people were killed when a motorcycle suicide bomber detonated near a gathering of top clerics in Kabul, shortly after they issued a ruling, or a fatwa, declaring such attacks "haram" — forbidden under Islamic law, Afghan security officials said Monday.
The bombing went off when guests were exiting the tent where the meeting was being held at around 11.30 am, the officials said.
The attacker detonated outside the tent, known as the Loya Jirga tent, where gatherings of top clerics and government officials are often held.
Local media said that some 3,000 clerics had gathered at the tent for the meeting of the Ulema Council, Afghanistan's top clerics.
Earlier they issued a fatwa against the ongoing conflict in the country, terming suicide attacks a sin against Islam.
"The ongoing war in Afghanistan does not have a legal base, only Afghans are the victims of this war... (it) does not have religious, national or human value," they said, according to government officials.
The council appealed on both the Afghan government forces and the Taliban and other militants to halt the fighting and agree on a cease-fire. It also called for peace negotiations between the two sides.
It's the first time the council has issued such an appeal.
A series of bombings in Kabul has killed dozens of people in recent months and shown no sign of easing during the holy month of Ramadan.
On Wednesday, gunmen armed with assault rifles and grenade launchers stormed the heavily fortified headquarters of the interior ministry, battling security forces for more than two hours.
