Afghan court cancels death sentences over Farkhunda murder

An Afghan appeals court on Thursday overturned death sentences for four men for the mob killing of an Afghan woman outside a Kabul shrine.

Appeals Court Judge Abdul Nasir Murid instead handed down 20-year sentences to three of the men convicted for the part they played in the March murder. A fourth killer was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment.

Farkhunda Malikzada, who was 27 year of age, was brutally beaten to death, and later burned before being thrown in a river after being falsely accused of burning a copy of the Qur'an.

Of the 49 persons initially convicted, 37 were released in May ahead of their own appeals being heard.

Kabul-based activist Ramin Anwari aired his discontent on his Twitter account, and said a massive protest was being planned.

Although Afghanistan's Constitution guarantees of gender equality, violence against women in the country is a widespread practice which often goes unpunished.

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