On a tragic day in March 2015, a 27-year-old woman named Farkhunda malikzada death Video Twitter was brutally killed by a mob in Kabul, Afghanistan after being falsely accused of burning a Quran. Video of the savage lynching spread rapidly on Twitter, sparking outrage and demonstrations demanding justice. However, the legal system’s subsequent response raised grave concerns about persisting violence against Afghan women. This horrific incident and its aftermath serve as symbols of the struggles facing women’s rights in Afghanistan, even after billions spent on reform. Following gokeylessvn.com !
I. Who Was Farkhunda Malikzada?
Farkhunda Malikzada was a 27-year-old Muslim woman living in Kabul, Afghanistan. On March 19th, 2015, she got into an argument with a fortuneteller at the Shah-Do Shamshira shrine, where she confronted men for distributing amulets and trafficking in Viagra and condoms at the holy site. Soon, she was falsely accused of burning pages of the Quran, a crime punishable by death in Afghanistan.
Despite Farkhunda’s innocence, this rumor sparked a violent mob of young men to viciously attack and kill her. They beat her, ran her over with a car, stoned her, set her body on fire and threw her into the Kabul River as police stood by. Video clips of the brutal public lynching in broad daylight were posted on Facebook and Twitter for the world to see Afghanistan’s horrific violence against women.
II. How Did Farkhunda Malikzada Die by Mob Violence?
Multiple videos were taken and shared on social media showing the violent mob brutality that led to Farkhunda’s death. The graphic clips show angry men shouting and striking Farkhunda with sticks and stones while she screams and tries to hide her bloodied face with her hands. Even young boys throw rocks at her limp body before her battered corpse is set on fire, then thrown into the river like trash.
These jarring images provided visual proof of the extreme violence and blatant disregard for women’s safety plaguing Afghan society. Farkhunda is seen as helpless against the frenzied mob of men surrounding her on all sides, screaming “Allahu Akbar” as they attack without hesitation in plain view. Their actions demonstrate how easily rumors ignite mob violence targeting women frequently labeled as “immoral” by strict cultural and religious customs.
The violent death videos sparked immediate outrage across Afghanistan as they spread on social media outlets like Facebook and Twitter. Many Afghan women especially felt horrified seeing how rapidly an innocent woman could be viciously killed over a total lie. Hashtags like #JusticeForFarkhunda drew attention globally, pressuring the Afghan government to properly investigate and punish all involved amidst fears of young extremists attacking more women.
Angry anti-government marches and vigils mourning Farkhunda’s death followed in Kabul as women carried her casket at the funeral, defying tradition. Demands escalated for severe punishment of attackers and police who enabled the public lynching. The viral outrage spotlighted Afghanistan’s broken rule of law and need for dramatic reforms protecting women from violence.
III. Why Did the Death Video Go Viral?
Farkhunda’s story went viral worldwide for revealing the persistent dangers to women’s safety rooted in Afghan society, despite billions spent by the West to advance women’s rights after the Taliban’s removal. The savage killing exposed open hostility and violence towards Afghan women merely accused of violating religious or social codes of morality. Even urban educated women remain extremely vulnerable to rumors inciting mob violence and so-called “honor killings” if seen as impure and dishonoring their family.
Statistics show Afghanistan remains one of the most dangerous places to be a woman, with an estimated 61% of Afghan women experiencing physical or sexual violence. Though the 2009 Law on the Elimination of Violence Against Women sought to reduce persecution of women, enforcement has lagged. Farkhunda’s brutal death demonstrates guards and police readily trusting accusations against women judged as “immoral,” refusing to intervene while violent mobs attack them.
Additionally, the legal system’s failure to properly prosecute Farkhunda’s killers despite clear video evidence sparked accusations that years of Western efforts and funding to strengthen rule of law in Afghanistan yielded few results. The U.S. and Europe spent more than $1 billiontraining lawyers and judges to implement legal reforms protecting women’s rights. However, the paltry sentences for culpable police and many attackers emboldened critics claiming such expensive rule-of-law programs changed little when Afghan culture continued persecuting women under misogynistic Islamic customs.
While the vicious killing drew initial condemnation from Afghan President Ashraf Ghani, later reduced sentences for high-profile culprits like the shrine’s custodian fueled allegations of corruption undermining justice reforms. Farkhunda’s case amplified contentions that advancing Afghan women’s equality under law required challenging powerful ultraconservative religious leaders and callbacks to Taliban-era public punishments of women. Without security for witnesses and female judges, prosecuting violence against Afghan women remained improbable.
IV. Where Can People Commemorate Farkhunda Today?
Though forgotten by many abroad today, activism within Afghanistan led by women’s groups helped establish online and public memorials so Farkhunda Malikzada’s story is not erased. These commemoration sites stand as reminders that the quest for women’s rights did not end with her death.
Many Afghan civil society organizations like the Solidarity Party of Afghanistan continue sharing Farkhunda’s story online through Facebook groups and activist hashtags. YouTube hosts videos explaining her case to younger generations while seeking accountability for attackers still not prosecuted. These online spaces aim to uplift Farkhunda as a symbol of the fight against fundamentalism oppressing Afghan women under the guise of religion. They continue demanding the Afghan Supreme Court follow through on reopening sentences not sufficiently punishing Farkhunda’s murderers.
In Kabul, a monument to Farkhunda was built overlooking the Kabul River where she was killed. The memorial statue honors pledges to continually battle violence and injustice targeting Afghan women. On the anniversary of her death, candlelight vigils and protests are often held at the site. Some groups distribute pamphlets about legal rights for women under Islam in an area where shrines peddle superstitious amulets. The site serves remembering all Afghan women falling victim to mob violence and religious extremism.
For Afghans visiting Kabul, Farkhunda’s memorial by the river stands as an open, public condemnation of radical fundamentalism harming women to this day. The monument symbolizes that her spirit lives on as activists carry forward demands for full legal rights and protections Afghan women deserve. Though justice was not fully served for Farkhunda’s senseless murder, her legacy pushes the country closer to guaranteeing women’s equality, dignity and security under law.