“They took my happiness awayâ€- Afghan groom after Islamic State attack on his wedding
Record ID:
1427663
“They took my happiness awayâ€- Afghan groom after Islamic State attack on his wedding
- Title: “They took my happiness awayâ€- Afghan groom after Islamic State attack on his wedding
- Date: 19th August 2019
- Summary: KABUL, AFGHANISTAN (AUGUST 19, 2019) (REUTERS) GROOM WHOSE WEDDING WAS HIT BY SUICIDE BOMBER, MIRWAIS ELMI, SITTING ON BED AND TALKING MIRWAIS SPEAKING EMOTIONALLY AND HITTING HIS NECK MIRWAIS' EYES LOOKING ON (SOUNDBITE) (Dari) GROOM WHOSE WEDDING WAS HIT BY SUICIDE BOMBER, MIRWAIS ELMI, SAYING: "The only wish of a king (groom) is to be happy, but they took my happiness away. A person has two important nights in the life, the night of the wedding and the night he dies." VARIOUS OF MIRWAIS HUGGING HIS RELATIVE AND CRYING (SOUNDBITE) (Dari) GROOM WHOSE WEDDING WAS HIT BY SUICIDE BOMBER, MIRWAIS ELMI, SAYING "Those people who are engaged (to a fiancé) can understand me. One of my wedding ceremony's guests was going to be married soon, but he has been martyred. Also, I had a guest who's wedding party was just 10 days ago, but he is in a coma now." MIRWAIS STANDING IN ROOM ALONGSIDE HIS FATHER (RIGHT) AND RELATIVE (LEFT) MIRWAIS WALKING DOWN STAIRS WITH HIS FATHER AND RELATIVE (SOUNDBITE) (Dari) GROOM WHOSE WEDDING WAS HIT BY SUICIDE BOMBER, MIRWAIS ELMI, SAYING: "Since the media was established in Afghanistan, we have been hearing condolences till now. I don't care if (the government) announces a national day of mourning. Celebration (of Independence Day) is good for the people, but not for me. My life is destroyed." MIRWAIS WALKING IN COMPOUND ALONGSIDE OF HIS FATHER AND RELATIVE (SOUNDBITE) (Dari) GROOM WHOSE WEDDING WAS HIT BY SUICIDE BOMBER, MIRWAIS ELMI, SAYING: "The peace talks are outside of the country, but war is ongoing in here (Afghanistan). The Taliban must sit and talk with the Afghan people, not the government, because the government was created by the people." MIRWAIS WALKING IN ALLEYWAY WITH RELATIVES MIRWAIS TALKING TO RELATIVES (SOUNDBITE) (Dari) GROOM WHOSE WEDDING WAS HIT BY SUICIDE BOMBER, MIRWAIS ELMI, SAYING: "I don't care even if peace comes, my life is destroyed, and I lost many of my friends and relatives. All the victims were my relatives. We have buried almost 25 victims in a one place." MIRWAIS GREETING FRIEND
- Embargoed: 2nd September 2019 11:55
- Keywords: Afghanistan attack wedding Islamic State Kabul groom
- Location: KABUL, AFGHANISTAN
- City: KABUL, AFGHANISTAN
- Country: Afghanistan
- Topics: Bombing (non-military),Conflicts/War/Peace,Editors' Choice
- Reuters ID: LVA001ASVTQVB
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: The groom of a wedding in western Kabul that was hit by a suicide blast that killed dozens told media on Monday (August 19) his happiness has been "taken away".
"The only wish of a king (groom) is to be happy, but they took my happiness away. A person has two important nights in the life, the night of the wedding and the night he dies," said Mirwais Elmi.
His bride survived but lost 14 members of her father's family. A total of 63 attendees were killed on the Saturday (August 17) night attack.
"I don't care even if peace comes, my life is destroyed, and I lost many of my friends and relatives. All the victims were my relatives. We have buried almost 25 victims in a one place," Mirwais added.
The Islamic State militant group claimed responsibility on Sunday (August 18) for the attack, underlining the dangers the country faces even if the Taliban agree a pact with the United States.
The Taliban had earlier denied responsibility for the Kabul attack and condemned it.
More than 180 people were wounded with many women and children among the casualties, interior ministry spokesman Nasrat Rahimi said on Sunday, as families thronged to Kabul's crowded cemeteries.
(Production: Samargul Zwak, Hameed Farzad, Sayed Hassib) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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