Afghan woman killed by mob in Kabul was innocent, says investigator

[Eugene]

Source: Reuters

Afghan woman killed by mob in Kabul was innocent, says investigator

Reuters
Sunday 22 March 2015 12.21 GMT

A woman killed by an angry mob in front of police in the Afghan capital last week for allegedly burning a copy of Islam’s holy book was wrongly accused, Afghanistan’s top criminal investigator has said.

Mobile phone footage circulating on social media shows police at the scene did not save the 27-year-old woman, Farkhunda, who was beaten with sticks and set on fire by a crowd of men in central Kabul on Thursday.

“Last night I went through all documents and evidence once again, but I couldn’t find any evidence to say Farkhunda burnt the holy Qur’an,” Gen Mohammad Zahir told reporters at her funeral on Sunday. “Farkhunda was totally innocent.”

[font size=1]-snip-[/font]

Farkhunda was a teacher of Islamic studies, according to her brother, who denied media reports that she had been mentally ill. He said this was a made-up defence by their father, who wanted to protect the family after police told them to leave the city for their own safety.

[font size=1]-snip-[/font]

Read more: http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/mar/22/afghan-woman-killed-mob-kabul-innocent

[mahatmakanejeeves]

1. Adding a link. This story needs more views.

Afghan woman, killed by a mob for a crime she didn’t commit, becomes a rallying point for activists

[moondust]

2. Afghan woman Farkhunda lynched in Kabul 'for speaking out'

Farkhunda, 28, was beaten, hit by bats, stamped on, driven over, and her body dragged by a car before being set on fire.

A policeman who witnessed the incident on Thursday told AP news agency that Farkhunda was arguing with a local mullah. Her father said she had complained about women being encouraged to waste money on the amulets peddled by the mullahs at the shrine.

"Based on their lies, people decided Farkhunda was not a Muslim and beat her to death," Mohammed Nadir told AP.

~

"Last night I went through all documents and evidence once again, but I couldn't find any evidence to say Farkhunda burnt the Holy Koran," General Mohammad Zahir told reporters at her funeral on Sunday. "Farkhunda was totally innocent."

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-32014077