hombuc

Icon of Struggle

It was early morning Thursday March 19 that Farkhonda heard sounds like opening door, she jumped out of the bed and run quickly to the door and said:
Wait father wait! then smiled at him and asked father that I need some money to buy something from market. Father paused for a while and pulled out his wallet and gave her few bills. Farkhonda thanked him and said bye father and did not wait for his comments that blessed her for few seconds.

Farkhonda left on afternoon when she finished her work at home. She had dressed with full Hijab as she was Muslim plus Kabul is a city still under risk of attack from Taliban a group who one of their attempt is to scare and keep women at house. She later reached the street where was famous for pilgrimage a place called Du Shamshir. This is where women comes to pray and emotionally comfort themselves.

Farkhonda when passed the entrance she looked at those people selling <Taviz> a kind of paper ( written in arabic pretend to be holy words and can heal diseases, etc) which is written by clergyman or person called at most Mullah . These fool taking advantage of women! Farkhonda said to herself.

She had spoken to women few times before trying to persuade them that it is wasting money to pay for these useless papers. She knew that these papers are worthless and can do nothing for women who seek healing for. She approached one of the woman and tried to explain why she should not buy these called Taviz. 

Hey you! what are you trying to do? one of those Mullah aggressively asked. He then approached Fakhonda quickly. His appearance with thick beard and flares angry eyes along scary voice that scared women.

You are trying to interrupt the God wishes and mislead my customers? the Mullah said

This is not misleading people this is to alert them and you know what you are selling is totally worthless, Farkhanda said bravely to Mullah.

The man passed one of the paper to a woman who listened silently and asked for money to pay. Farkhonda took the paper and tear it up in front of his eyes. Mullah that would not believe her action shouted at her and started to abuse verbally. He started to yelling to passers and tried to draw attention of people. 

Soon people gathered and surrounded Farkhonda and questioning what has happened. The Mullah then shouted and said: 

This evil woman torn and burnt the Holy Quran ( Muslim holy book ) the words of God. People who most of them were mobs and loafer fooling around the place they looked at Farkhoda with anger and intolerance behaving.

Another Mullah approached to the crowd and showing some burned paper in his hand claiming she has insulted the holy book. In a second few of mobs approached closely to Farkhonda as if wanted to attack her.

You burned the Quran? you Unbeliever!?
No I did not! I swear to God this man lying! then added:
I did not burn the Quran I am a Muslim girl and I have never done this! told Farkhonda to those mobs.

But men who most were young, stormed at Farkhonda and one of them punched her face. Farkhonda violently forced back and asked for help but the second strike hit her face and then third and forth on poor girl.

Farkhonda felt pain and weakness and then bloods started covering her face. She could not tolerate the violent attack from men and collapsed on the ground. All these happened in matter of few seconds.

Men with dreadful noises attack at Farkhonda again and beat her horribly. They banged her head brutally with their feet. Some beat with stick or stone. Men shouting Allah Akbar , Allah Akbar (God is great )and beat her again.

Soon police arrived and tried to scatter people. They could take away Farkhonda slightly far from mobs who now surrounded the place tightly. A Mullah who was from Du Shamshir shouting to the crowd: This evil woman must be punished for Allha ( God ). 

Since police and guards could not resist against mobs they started to withdraw from scene and left Farkhonda alone surrounded by angry group of mobs.

Couple of gangsters grabbed Farkhonda hairs and pulled her to the middle of street. Hundreds of people gathered around and silently watched the tragedy. None of them wanted to come forward to prevent this horrible scene and save Farkhonda.

A car drove by one of the mob and run on Farkhonda body back and forth until they were certain she is dead. Then some pulled her body and throw her into a dried river next to Du Shamshir. Few quickly jumped into river to finish it as they were told. People around were watching this horrible scene, few people filming with mobile phone. They wanted to record this for the whole world to show and saying look we are people who were here and witness this crime and did not do anything to save her. 

　
Soon everyone saw fire on her body, Farkhonda was burning and mobs yelling Allah Akbar, Allah Akbar.

Meanwhilte police came back and watched the body then after moment firefighters came to extinguish the fire on dead body of Farkhnda. She sacrificed in anger of fool people, her spirits flied back to God. Mobs, they later gathered around house where Farkhonda lived. They shouted at house and there was a fear that people might attack home and harm family of Farkhonda.

Police chief Rahimi suggested family to tell mobs that she was mentally sick,  he then added, this might prevent mobs to harm family. The family did as police told. Finally mobs scattered and left the home. The familiy with sad and tearful eyes start to moan. Police also had told the family it is good idea to move away from Kabul and settle to another city because it might be impossible to protect them from future attacks.

On Friday the whole city of Kabul notified from the tragedy. Many women gathered and protested against this horrible crime. They then presented at funeral and carried her coffin. Some men wanted to participate but women shouted at them and would not allow carry the coffin for funeral. 

A clergyman of Du Shamshir Mosque and the deputy minister of information and culture as well as spokesman of Kabul police who already protected the action, They all announced apology in media. One of them who was named Mulavy Ayaz Niazi was denied by women in funeral ceremony. Mulavy had already commented that if Gov. wants to arrest people for their holy action they must think of consequences and expect people uprising.

Kabul women lined up on front of coffin. They prayed according Islamic rules and then buried the coffin without allowing men participation. This happened for the first time in the history of Kabul city.

A young teenager who had posted on his facebook <Feeling Wonderful> later he removed the post, few of others also had to remove their inappropriate comments. One was famous for being mob around the city and now is listed among arrested persons who participated in beating and killing. 

The following week the attorney general announced 46 people have been arrested in accusation of Farkhonda tragic death. Simin Hasanzadeh culture and information director and Heshmat Stankzi Kabul police spokesman were dismissed from their positions.

After 40 days court announced that 4 accused to be charged with murder of Farkhonda and will be executed to death penalty. Also 8 others charged 16 years in prison for each one. Court also told journalists that accused can appeal to court. Up to this now ( Aug 2015 ) still the verdict of judge is not executed and these 12 are in custody.

Farkhonda 27 years old rests in grave while Kabul women tirelessly asked for justice and reform and freedom of women from harassment and abuse by men. The men who have been grown up in closed society with fanaticism and backwardness that grew during Taliban terrorists who ruled Afghanistan from 1996 til 2001.

Toronto
Aug 2015
Moe