At least seven persons were killed after a suicide bomber exploded a device near Muslim clerics on Monday as they were leaving a giant tent in the west of Kabul where they had gathered to denounce terrorism and call for peace, Reuters quoted security officials as saying.

Reports said that around  2,000 members of the council had gathered for the meeting at the tent erected in the Afghan capital’s 5th District. The explosion struck as the council was ending and the participants were about to leav, reports said .

Shortly before the attack, the clerics had issued an Islamic ruling, or a fatwa, declaring that suicide attacks are “haram” — forbidden under Islamic law.

A series of bombings in Kabul that has killed dozens of people in recent months has showed no sign of easing during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.