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Farkhunda Murder: Afghan Judge Jails 11 Cops Over Slaying

Eleven Afghan police were sentenced to one year in jail for not preventing the brutal mob killing of a woman in Kabul.
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KABUL — Eleven Afghan police were sentenced to one year in jail on Tuesday for failing to prevent the brutal mob killing of a woman in Kabul whose slaying sparked widespread protests and outrage.

Judge Safiullah Mojadedi released eight other police officers for lack of evidence. All the defendants can appeal.

On May 6, four people were convicted of murder and sentenced to death for 27-year-old Farkhunda's slaying, who was set upon after being wrongly accused of burning the Quran. At the time, eight people were sentenced to 16 years in prison and 18 were not found guilty and released.

Farkhunda, a religious scholar, was beaten, pushed her from a roof, run over by a car, thrown into the Kabul River and then set alight on March 19. The attack, which was captured by cellphone video and distributed widely online, sent shock waves through the country and prompted a protest movement calling for justice and for greater protection of women's rights.

IN-DEPTH

— Fazul Rahim and F. Brinley Bruton