Demonstrations in Afghanistan over the Commuting of Four Killers' Death Sentences
There are demonstrations in Afghanistan over the recent commuting of four killers' death sentences [1, 2, 3]. Four men convicted of killing Farkhunda Malikzada had originally been sentenced to death for participating in her killing. This occured after an argument outside of a shrine in Kabul in March, when a mob formed and stoned her to death. The keeper of the shrine where the conflict and subsequent violence took place, who has been identified as an instigator, was acquitted. He allegedly loudly accused Farkhunda of burning a Qur'an (according to the BBC [1], a false claim), and may have sparked the mob violence which ensued. Three of the four men origianlly sentenced to death will serve 20 years in prison, and the fourth one will serve for 10 years because he is a minor [1]. The decision was made in secret by a group of appeals court judges.
According to MESC Director, Alam Payind, the rationale the judges based their decision on was that the men could potentially be reformed. Some of them were orphaned as small children, growing up in a coutnry enduring 36 years of killing and destruction, and raised with no supervision or education.
The family has expressed its disppointment appeal court did not communicate directly with them about their decision [1]. There was no representation of the victim's family at the deliberations.
The two main complaints of the protests is that the court system is corrupted, and that women are not treated with the same standards of justice men are [1,2]. Sccording to Payind, the common allegation in Kabul is that this was a political decision. He stated that:
"In countries such as Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria and Yemen, the politicians have the upper hand in cases such as this one which are in the public eye. They have more power than the legal authorities, and are seeking security and stability over justice."
Calming the situation down is their highest priority, but it backfired in this case. Five days after the sentence was commuted, protests are escalating in Kabul, especially in regard to women's rights [2].
[1] http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-33358710
[2] http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/jul/06/farkhunda-malikzada-murder-protests-kabul-death-sentences-quashed
