He Was Hit by Three Bullets

Narrator: Qasim (friend)

Victim: M. Hussain Mohammadi

Date of the incident: 23 July 2016

Location of the incident: Dehmazang, Kabul City

In the name of God

I am a friend of martyred Mohammad Hussain Mohammadi. He was from Ghazni province, Qarabagh district, from the village of Zardsang, known as the Faiz Mohammad Kateb village. He was born there, lived there, and was taught in a religious school until he went to school.

When he enrolled in a public school, his family moved to the city of Ghazni. He completed his schooling at the Ghazni High School. When he graduated from 12th grade, he traveled to Iran, where he worked as a tailor. He lived there as a migrant worker for several years before returning to Kabul. He started a series of other activities in Kabul. He and his brother rented a building near the neighbourhood of Kote Sangi in Kabul and started working there. After a while, they got a cosmetic shop in Zadran Market and started working there. Sometime later, he resumed his studies and enrolled in journalism at Ibn-e Sina University. Besides studying and working with his brother, he also worked at Fars News. Six months later, he took a position at the Population Registration Department and also worked for them in Herat. He was a pious, friendly, and compassionate person. He never upset anyone; he always treated people well. When he moved to Herat, he promised me that he would help me find a good job after I graduated from university. He was caring and ready to help his friends and support young people. After a while, he called me and said that a suitable vacancy was advertised in Herat, and it was fit for me. When I arrived in Herat, I called him as soon as I got close to the terminal. He and his colleague came immediately and took me to their office. I worked there for some time. During that period, he paid for all my expenses.

When he finished his work in Herat and returned to Kabul, we were in touch once or twice a week. He believed that youth should play a role in politics; that is why he participated in the demonstration on the 23rd of July, despite having his final exam that day.

That fateful day, his brother received a call saying that Hussain had participated in the rally. They didn't know about what had happened to him, but there had been an explosion in Dehmazang. When we called Hussain, his number was not in service. We called him again, and someone else picked up the phone and said the phone's owner was injured and was in the Maula Ali hospital.

I sent one of his brothers home and told him that if they asked him about Hussain, no one should reveal anything before an update was available. I went to the hospital with his other brother, but Hussain was not there, and his brother said to go look in Barchi hospital. We went to Barchi hospital but his name was not listed there either. I called his brother again, but he didn't answer the phone. A few moments later, his brother-in-law answered the call and said Hussain was in the hospital. They had found him. When I reached the hospital and saw his brother crying, and I thought Hussain must be badly wounded, but as I got closer, I saw Mohammad Hussain's coffin beside the wall. I felt terrible when I realized that I would never see Mohammad Hussain alive again.

Three bullets had hit him, and one of his hands was broken by the gunshot. It was a difficult moment. We informed the elders of the martyr's family, and after half an hour, we moved the martyr's body to Barchi and then departed for Ghazni, where we buried him the next day. Mohammad Hussain Mohammadi always said he would like to be martyred; he wanted martyrdom. On the day of the incident, he had put on his new shirt, and before leaving the house, he had said to his wife, "I am leaving the house today, but you must remember to take care of my children and yourself." He has a four-year-old son and a one-and-a-half-year-old daughter. When he was martyred, he was nearly 30 years old. He was a kind and friendly person who always encouraged us to study and was an avid reader. I have good memories of him; all his friends and colleagues loved him dearly.