| Submit your comments on this article |
| Afghanistan |
| HRW slams sentence reduction in brutal murder case of Farkhunda |
| 2016-03-11 |
| [Khaama (Afghanistan)] The Human Rights Watch ... During the fiscal year ended June 30, 2011, HRW received a pledge from the Foundation to Promote Open Society, of which George Soros is Chairman, for general support totaling $100,000,000. The grant is being paid in installments of $10,000,000 over ten years.Through June 30, 2013, HRW had received $30,000,000 towards the fulfillment of the pledge.... (HRW) slammed the Afghan courts for significant reduction of sentence to 13 men convicted of Farkhunda’s brutal murder in March 2015. The New York-based rights organization said "It’s a bitter irony that the latest blow to justice for Farkhunda Malikzada occurred on the eve of International Women’s Day." The Attorney General Office of Afghanistan announced Monday that 17 suspects have been awarded jail terms, which include 20 years term for 3 of the perpetrators, 16 years tem for 13 perpetrators and another perpetrator has been placed in durance vile Yez got nuttin' on me, coppers! Nuttin'! for 10 years. "This week, Afghanistan’s Supreme Court granted significant sentence reductions to 13 men convicted of Farkhunda’s brutal murder in March 2015. The men were part of a mob that beat Farkhunda to death in broad daylight in central Kabul ...the capital of Afghanistan. Home to continuous fighting from 1992 to 1996 between the forces of would-be strongman and Pak ISI/Jamaat-e-Islami sock puppet Gulbuddin Hekmayar and the Northern Alliance, a period which won Hek the title Most Evil Man in the Worldand didn't do much for the reputations of the Northern Alliance guys either.... awhile police stood by and watched," HRW said. HRW further added that the decision is a reminder of just how badly the Afghan justice system has failed Farkhunda and her family. "Commuting the four death sentences averts the further cruelty of capital punishment. But it does not bring justice for Farkhunda any closer," HRW said, adding that thirty men were initially charged with a murder that was witnessed by scores of people and video recorded by her killers and bystanders alike. According to HRW, at every stage of this case the Afghan criminal justice system failed to adequately investigate, hold to account or appropriately punish those responsible. "The trials of those originally accused were conducted in haste and riddled with procedural errors, with many defendants lacking legal counsel. Police also failed to arrest a number of attackers who are clearly identifiable in video footage of the killing. Of the 19 police prosecuted for failing to intervene to stop the mob, the court lightly disciplined only 11," HRW added. HRW also added that President Ashraf Ghani ...former chancellor of Kabul University, now president of Afghanistan. Before returning to Afghanistan in 2002 he was a scholar of political science and anthropology. He worked at the World Bank working on international development assistance. As Finance Minister of Afghanistan between July 2002 and December 2004, he led Afghanistan's attempted economic recovery until the Karzais stole all the money. .. ’s government could still do much more to track down those individuals implicated in Farkhunda’s killing who have so far evaded justice. |
| Posted by:Fred |