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By Farhad Naibkhel-KABUL: Fact Finding Commission, established after killing of the 27-year old Farkhunda to probe the case, has found Farkhunda innocent.
The commission’s findings showed that Farkhunda was accused of burning copy of the Holy Quran. The 27-year old was lynched and killed by a mob in Kabul City in presence of policemen, nearly two weeks ago.
Head of the commission Mawlawi Mohiuddin Baloch said that after assessment of all documents and witnesses’ accounts, it was established that the allegation was baseless and Farkhunda did not burn the Holy Quran. The commission members were comprised of Ulema, lawmakers, civil rights and human rights activists.
Speaking at a press conference here he said that no documents and evidence have been found to prove the claim that Farkhunda burnt the Holy Quran.
He said that motives behind Farkhunda’s killing are still unclear, but the young woman tried to prevent people, particularly women, from visiting the Shah-e Do Shamshira Shrine. It is said that Farkhunda was telling people to stop taking talisman from soothsayers. This practice has earned ire of the shrine’s watchmen and accused Farkhunda of burning copy of the Holy Quran which sparked public anger.
According to finds of the commission, Farkhunda had a good personality and learn the Holy Quran by heart and was an active religious motivator. The allegations are totally against her character, he added.
Baloch further said that no document or witness proved involvement of any religion scholar in lynching and killing of Farkhunda.
Based on the commission report all the 27 arrested suspects are illiterate or less-educated. Most of them cannot recite the Holy Quran. The findings also revealed that police in start tried to protect Farkhunda and control the situation but later failed to enforce the law and rescue the girl from the mob. “It showed weakness and unprofessionalism of police. Therefore, the government shall take notice of the issue,” the commission said. The findings also showed that the incident started from verbal clash and till killing and burning of Farkhunda took 25 minutes.
The commission urged the government to prosecute the case transparently and punish the perpetrators in accordance to the law. It also asked the government to arrest the remaining perpetrators who were involved in case but are at large.
