Four men were sentenced to death Wednesday for the brutal mob killing of a 27-year-old Afghan woman falsely accused of burning a Koran, a killing that triggered outrage and rare street protests and galvanized a nation against the all-too-common violent abuse of women in this country.
The men were among 49 defendants who were swiftly brought to trial amid a public clamoring for justice for the . Eight defendants were sentenced to 16 years in prison for their role, while 18 others were found not guilty and released, sparking anger from the victim’s family and friends.
The remaining defendants are 19 policemen, who were among the crowd that watched as the mob beat the woman, Farkhunda, with sticks and rocks outside a shrine in this capital city. The mob then dragged her body behind a car before setting her corpse on fire and throwing it into the Kabul River.
Verdicts and possible sentences for the policemen, all accused of failing to do anything to save Farkhunda — who, like many Afghans, used only one name — are expected Sunday.
In an interview after the verdict, one of Farkhunda’s brothers angrily denounced the sentences as insufficient. Hundreds of people “were involved in my sister’s brutal killing and only four of them are sentenced to death,” said Najibullah Malikzadah. “This is not justice at all.”
The four-day trial, which was televised nationally, was among the more unusual legal events that the country has witnessed in recent memory. Afghans watched the rare sight of policemen and mosque personnel facing charges over crimes that are seldom, if ever, prosecuted so swiftly. Violent acts against women, in particular, almost never get such treatment, and the trial underscored the extent to which Farkhunda’s killing and forced a collective soul-searching.
Among those who received death sentences was the seller of amulets who falsely accused Farkhunda of burning the Koran after she was thought to have confronted him about his business, which her family said she considered un-Islamic. It was unclear whether the seller participated in her killing, but he nevertheless received the harshest penalty possible.
Farkhunda’s death sparked an outpouring of anger on social media. Thousands of people , marching to the Supreme Court to demand justice and punishment for the police officers. Female activists painted their faces red, mimicking the bloodied face of Farkhunda.
Inside the packed court room Wednesday, Judge Safiullah Mojadidi asked Farkhunda’s mother whether she wanted to address the court before he read the verdict and sentences. She stood up and said: “Your Excellency, you are sitting on the chair of justice, and I want justice.”
Mojadidi then read aloud each verdict and sentence, beginning by naming the four men and informing them that they were “found guilty of murder and the burning of Farkhunda.”
“According to the law panel, you are to be hanged until death,” he continued. “This is not the final decision of the court, and you can appeal this verdict.”
As Mojadidi read down the list, there was a muted reaction from the audience. Many were expecting more of those on trial to face punishment.
In the killing’s aftermath, cellphone videos of the incident proliferated online, showing dozens of possible assailants. Some people proudly boasted on social media that they had participated in the death of Farkhunda.
Her killing was a grim reminder of the threats Afghan women continue to face more than 13 years after the Taliban Islamist regime was overthrown.
Under the Taliban, women were denied schooling and employment and were forced to wear the blue head-to-toe burqas that became a vivid symbol of female oppression around the world. The United States and other Western nations have made it a priority to bring gender equality to the country, pumping hundreds of millions of dollars into programs to empower women.
But most parts of Afghanistan remain gripped by tribal customs, traditions and religious perceptions that still subjugate many women. Domestic violence is common. Women are routinely forced into marriages, and some are victims of honor killings.
On Wednesday, female activists said that they wished that the trial had sent a clear message that violence against women would no longer be tolerated by the judicial system. Instead, they said they were disappointed that only four of the accused were sentenced to death, adding that they were concerned that those verdicts could be overturned on appeal. They also noted that no senior police officials were brought to trial.
“We Afghan women do not feel protected after the decision of the court,” said Munira Yousifzada, a women’s rights activist. “We will witness more brutal killings of women in the country because of this injustice.”
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