Eleven Afghan Police Sentenced Over Mob Killing

May 19, 2015

An Afghan court has sentenced 11 police officers to one year in prison for failing to prevent the mob killing of a woman in Kabul.

After announcing the sentence on May 19, Judge Safiullah Mojadedi said the defendants have the right to appeal.

Another eight policemen were released for lack of evidence.

The 19 officers were among 49 people charged over the attack on a 27-year-old woman named Farkhunda.

An angry mob turned on Farkhunda on March 19, beating and trampling on her in broad daylight and setting her body ablaze.

The attack came after an amulet seller, whom she had reportedly castigated for peddling superstition, falsely accused her of burning the Koran.

Her killing sparked protests around Afghanistan and drew global attention to the treatment of Afghan women.

Earlier in May, four defendants were sentenced to death and eight to 16 years in prison. Another 18 were freed for lack of evidence.

Based on reporting by AP, AFP, and Reuters