The murder of Farkhunda Malikzada was committed by a Muslim mob in Kabul, Afghanistan, on 19 March 2015.[1] Malikzada, a 27-year-old Afghan woman, had been involved in an argument with a street vendor over his practice of selling amulets when he publicly accused her of burning the Quran, attracting a large group of people from the Shah-Do Shamshira Mosque.[2] Shortly thereafter, she was publicly lynched, with several members of the mob bludgeoning her and then running her over with a car, which dragged her for nearly 100 metres (330 ft). Subsequently bringing her near the Kabul River, the mob, while yelling the takbir and anti-American slogans, took turns further bludgeoning her corpse before setting it on fire, with some of the assailants ripping off parts of their clothes to use for kindling, as Malikzada's clothes were soaked in blood and her corpse would not stay burning.

In the aftermath of Malikzada's lynching, public opinion was overwhelmingly against her; a number of Muslim clerics and Afghan government officials stated that she had desecrated Islam in order to gain American citizenship, and a police investigation was also launched to determine whether she had truly burned the Quran. When it was revealed that she had not done so, 49 people were arrested in connection with her death and protests erupted throughout Kabul.[3] Three men were sentenced to 20 years in prison, another eight men were sentenced to 16 years in prison, and a 20-year-old man who had fabricated his birth certificate in an attempt to present himself as a legal minor was sentenced to 10 years in prison. Additionally, 11 police officers received one-year prison sentences for their failure to protect Malikzada from the mob.[4]

Malikzada's murder was condemned by the United States and the European Union, and drew renewed international attention to the issue of women's rights in Afghanistan. Later that year, the Solidarity Party of Afghanistan sponsored the construction of a memorial for her in Kabul.[5][6]

Background

Farkhunda was an observant Muslim who wore a veil (hijab). At the time of her murder, she had just finished a degree in Islamic studies and was preparing to take a teaching post.[7] Her name means "auspicious" and "jubilation" in Dari.[8]

Murder

Farkhunda had previously been arguing with a local cleric named Zainuddin in front of Shah-Do Shamshira Mosque where she worked as a religious teacher, about his practice of selling amulets.[9][10] During this argument, Zainuddin reportedly accused her of burning the Quran. She responded:

"I am a Muslim, and Muslims do not burn the Quran!"[11]

Hundreds of angry radicals flocked to the shrine upon overhearing the mullah's accusation. Police arrived and attempted to lead Farkhunda to a local precinct building one mile away, but she refused, asking for a female police officer to accompany her.[12] The mob was able to drag Farkhunda away into the street where they knocked her to the ground and began beating and kicking her. More police arrived, firing warning shots into the air and temporarily dispersing the crowd. They moved her into the Shah-Do Shamshira Mosque in an attempt to shield her. As the crowd grew in size and rumors that she was working with Americans began circulating, the mob attempted to storm the shrine. Police hoisted her onto the roof of the building in an attempt to rescue her from the crowd, but Farkhunda, struck by stones and planks thrown by the mob, suddenly slipped and fell into the crowd.[12]

The mob dragged Farkhunda into the street and beat and stomped her.[7] She was bludgeoned with sticks and rocks outside the mosque, then placed into the road and run over with a car, dragging her body almost 100 metres (330 ft). Police offered no resistance, and directed traffic around the scene.[12] The mob then dragged her body to the nearby bank of the Kabul River, took turns stoning her and set her on fire. Her body was soaked in blood and would not burn, so the crowd ripped off articles of their own clothing to ignite and maintain the fire. The mob shouted the Takbir during the lynching, including after they were certain Farkhunda was dead.[10][13]

Farkhunda's parents said the killing was instigated by the mullah Farkhunda had been speaking to. According to Tolo News he loudly accused her of burning the Quran "in order to save his job and life."[14] An eyewitness said that the mob was chanting anti-American slogans while beating Farkhunda.[15] The mob was captured on video accusing her of working with Americans, and of being a French embassy worker.[12]

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5787146&forum_id=2:#49355064)