Four sentenced to Death over Afghan Mob-Killing

Four Afghan men have been sentenced to death over the mob killing of a woman in Kabul in March.

The 28-year-old woman called Farkhunda was beaten to death after being accused of burning a copy of the Qoran, although witnesses say she did not.

It took just four days for the verdicts to be reached. Eight other men were sentenced to 16 years in prison and 18 others found not guilty.

The incident led to widespread protests against the treatment of women.

Nineteen policemen who were accused of failing in their duty to prevent the attack are still waiting for the decision in their case, expected on Sunday.

Farkhunda’s brother told the BBC that the family are not satisfied with the verdict and that all of the main defendants should be put to death.

Farkhunda had argued with a mullah, or religious teacher, about his practice of selling charms to women at the well-known Shah-Du-Shamshaira shrine, which is within walking distance of the presidential palace and Kabul’s main bazaar.

In the course of the argument Farkhunda was accused of burning the Koran and a crowd overheard and attacked her.

In confession statements read in court, some of the accused admitted they had been drawn in by the claims. An official investigator has said there is no evidence she burned the Qoran.

Source: BBC News