Afghan court quashes Farkhunda mob killing death sentences

Farkhunda Malikzada was attacked at an Islamic shrine after being falsely accused of burning a copy of the Koran.

She was stoned to death, her body was run over by a car and set on fire.

The court also acquitted the keeper of the shrine. Family members and rights activists have expressed outrage at the decision, which was taken in secret.

Wednesday's appeal court hearing in Kabul was held behind closed doors - local media report that the four death sentences were commuted to 20-year jail terms.

The way the appeal was heard, in a closed court, with no journalists or other observers present, is only one of the troubling aspects of this decision. Exact details of the ruling have not yet been formally announced, but this does appear to be the final appeal hearing.

Prominent women's rights activist Wazhma Frogh said that if the keeper of the shrine does now walk free, then she is "completely outraged".

"Farkhunda was killed because she was a woman," she said. And the judges have treated her case lightly. In Afghanistan, "not only the Taliban, but the whole system is oppressing women", she added.

The widespread anger both here and around the world about the murder led to unusual transparency, with cameras allowed into the first court appearances. But that openness has not been continued through the appeals procedure.

Ms Malikzada's brother Najibullah told BBC Persian: "It's not a court, it's just a show... The media should have been there, we should been there, the lawyers should have been there.

"It's a real theatre. The whole world laughs at the judicial system of Afghanistan. Do the judges have families, sisters, mothers - or not? Do they have a heart? We will not accept this decision."

He accused the authorities of "a tyranny" against the family, who have been living in fear since the attack.

At the original trail in May, eight men were given jail terms of 16 years, as well as the four who received death sentences.

Later in the month, 11 policemen were sentenced to one year in prison for failing to protect Ms Malikzada, a devout Islamic student. Eight other police officers were acquitted.

The treatment of the police was condemned as too lenient, in a country where women are frequently denied justice.

Kimberley Motley, an American lawyer in Afghanistan who represented the family during the previous trial, also criticised the ruling.

"I'm extremely surprised and disappointed. I'm very concerned because this happened in a very closed hearing, it wasn't transparent as the first court was and so there's questions as to why this even occurred.

"There's very strong evidence through video and through eyewitness testimony that justified the original sentences that were imposed on these men."

(BBC)