On September 9 , 2001 , two days before the September 11 attacks in the United States , Massoud was assassinated in Takhar Province of Afghanistan by suspected al-Qaeda agents . The funeral , although taking place in a rather rural area , was attended by hundreds of thousands of mourning people . The following year , he was named " National Hero " by the order of Afghan President Hamid Karzai . The date of his death , September 9 , is observed as a national holiday in Afghanistan , known as " Massoud Day " . The year following his assassination , in 2002 , Massoud was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize ( which , incidentally , is never awarded posthumously )
September 11 attacks
September 11 attacks
Afghan Civil War (1996–2001)