KABUL(SW):A number of women’s rights activists and civil society activists urged the government to immediately arrest the culprits who stoned to death a girl named Rukhshana in Ghor province earlier this month.
Speaking at the civil society gathering in Kabul, Hussaina Safi head of Afghan Women’s Network (AWN) said that it has been 8 months since Farkhunda was lynched but her case too is not processed justly.
According to her the Supreme Court has said that the reason why a final verdict was not issued in Farkhunda case was the overwhelming number of pending cases. She believed that the delay would compel people to lose trust in the judicial institutions.
Frozan Mashal, a women’s rights activist, said on the occasion that violence against women has increased since Farkhunda was lynched and burned to death eight months ago.
She said Rukhshana was another victim who was stoned to death in Ghor province. She questioned judicial institutions as well as government of national unity saying the government and judicial bodies have utterly failed to follow-up cases of violence against women.
Najla Rahil, one of Farkhunda’s defendants, said that Supreme Court was due to announce its final verdict according to the law. She believed that the final verdict was due to be announced three months ago but the law has been violated by Supreme Court itself. She said that out of 49 people who were accused of being involved in murdering Farkhunda, only 12 people have been imprisoned.
Arefa Safar, Head of Afghan Women’s Network in Balkh, accused judicial system of negligence in women’s case. Taher Hashemi, a legal affairs expert, told Salam Watandar that Farkhunda’s case was politicized and got out of normal judicial proceedings and became suspended.
Out of 49 suspects regarding Farkhunda’s murder, 4 were sentenced to death, 8 were sentenced to 18 years imprisonment and 18 were found not guilty. Farkhunda was lynched and burned to death by angry mobs allegedly for burning Holy Quran in Shah-e-Doshamshira mosque in Kabul last year.
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