Afghan police hunt woman's executioner
A manhunt is under way for Taliban militants who publicly executed a woman accused of adultery, Afghan authorities said, as outrage mounted after a video of the cold-blooded killing surfaced.
The commander of NATO's 130,000 troops in Afghanistan, General John Allen, offered to help local security forces track and capture the men involved in what he called "an atrocity of unspeakable cruelty".
The brutal shooting of the lone woman before a cheering mob of men is shown in graphic detail in a video of the event in a village in Parwan province some 100 kilometres (60 miles) north of the capital Kabul.
"We have sent a police force to the area," Parwan provincial governor Basir Salangi told AFP, adding that the government had no permanent presence in the valley.
"They are searching for the Taliban who are responsible but the Taliban, including the killer, have fled to the mountains."
Roshna Khalid, Salangi's spokeswoman, separately told AFP the 22-year-old woman, named as Najiba, was married to a member of the hardline Islamist Taliban and was accused of adultery with a Taliban commander.
"Within one hour they decided that she was guilty and sentenced her to death. They shot her in front of villagers in her village, Qol," she said.
Public executions of alleged adulterers were common when the Taliban regime was in power from 1996 until 2001, when they were ousted by a US-led invasion for harbouring Al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden after the 9/11 attacks.
The Taliban have since waged an insurgency against the Western-backed government of President Hamid Karzai.
"There has been too much progress made by too many brave Afghans, especially on the part of women, for this kind of criminal behaviour to be tolerated," Allen said.
The video also drew international condemnation, with British Foreign Secretary William Hague saying he was "shocked and disgusted" by the execution.
"Such deplorable actions underline the vital need for better protection of the rights of women and girls in Afghanistan," he said.
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, before the video surfaced, made a powerful plea Sunday for the rights of women in Afghanistan, amid fears that recent gains for women are under threat as NATO troops prepare to leave in 2014.
Clinton, who was addressing a world conference in Tokyo on Afghanistan's future, said: "The United States believes strongly that no nation can achieve peace, stability and economic growth if half the population is not empowered."
President Hamid Karzai's government condemned the killing as "un-Islamic and inhuman", ordering police to find and bring to justice those responsible.
The video opens with the woman, wrapped in a grey shawl, sitting at the edge of a ditch in a village surrounded by dozens of men, some perched on rooftops for a better view.
As she sits with her back to the crowd a bearded man is seen reading verses from the Koran condemning adultery, before saying: "We cannot forgive her, God tells us to finish her."
The video then shows a man in white being handed an AK-47 rifle. Some local reports said the shooter was the woman's husband but Khalid, the governor's spokesperson, told AFP that he was a relative of the victim's husband.
The executioner approaches to within a couple of metres of the woman, says "Allahu akhbar" (God is great), and fires a total of 13 shots as the crowd cheers wildly, shouting "Long live Islam", "Long live mujahideen (holy warriors)".
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c scudi
Aug 24th 2012, 20:52
The Talaban and other extreme Muslims are living in the past.There philosophy seems to be avoid and prevent progress and the total suppession of women..
Joe Xuereb
Jul 9th 2012, 16:40
@James Tyrrell (9th July 11:48)No, Mr. Tyrrell, we must not continue what the Taliban started when they destroyed the Buddhas of Bamiyan. We must not sink to that level.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buddhas_of_Bamiyan
http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/208/
http://www.afghanistan-photos.com/crbst_21.html
http://www.wired.co.uk/news/archive/2011-03/01/afghanistan-buddhas-of-bamiyan-reconstruction/viewgallery#!image-number=1
I wish the US would consider funding the restoration of these monuments and show the world that its troops are not in Afghanistan for the fun of being there.
I am fast coming to the conclusion that maybe, animals and artefacts are more worthy of conservation than people. Especially when one gets people who comment on these pages that 'they are our brothers; we have to help them'. They forget that some brothers can be devils, abusive and with madmen without scruples. One does not negotiate with a madman. I know it sounds cynical but a bit of cynicism never hurt anyone. And if it saves one's skin..........!
Bill Khan
Jul 9th 2012, 14:07
These paeople are living in the past. No longer in the modern world adultry is regarded an illegal activity. In the uK every year more than twnety five thousand children are born to married women. husband does not know iof the child he is rearing is his or some one else's child. There have been numerous cases where fathers have found out the truth many years later.Life goes bon and no woman is shot. Wev brought freedom to the women of Afghanistan to actas freely as any woman in the modern world albeit adultry or otherwise. Whilst the Afghan men should show tolerance to the new world order of adultry homosexiality, abortions and usuary. sooner they learn to adapt the better for all of us.
Mario Borg
Jul 9th 2012, 13:17
@ Franco Farrugia
This was not a lone executioner. This was the implementation of Sharia law by the village elders.
Fundamentalism is wrong in any form, whether Christian, Islamic, Hindu or whatever. No one has the prerogative to claim they have a God given right to punish others if they don't live their lives according to their 'rules'.
As this video testifies Islamic fundamentalism is particularly dangerous and when one considers it is often a minority which forces Sharia law on others I find it the whole thing very troubling.
Christopher Grech
Jul 9th 2012, 13:16
If they followed the Koran properly the Taliban commander should have been shot as well!
It take a man and a women to do this act, and even the Taliban are hypocrites! What is worse, is that the Taliban commander should have given the example, and not commit adultery!
Justice, whether the Bible or the Koran is for all, men and women, and this should be known to all.
The Taliban should have therefore killed its commander too!
Joey Tribbiani
Jul 9th 2012, 12:40
Mental defficiency at it's best!
Tonio Farrugia
Jul 9th 2012, 12:39
this brings us back to planet earth... and makes us realise how contained our problems are!
Thanks God we have God!
Charles W. Sammut
Jul 9th 2012, 14:55
Really? Most crimes and stupidities are committed in the name of some god or other. Religion is the root of so much evil.
charles fenech
Jul 9th 2012, 12:21
A bunch of savages. There is no excuse of religion here.
Ian Mamo
Jul 9th 2012, 12:14
Religion is just a guide line for politics and mis-judgement. It only applies where we want it to. I'm an atheist and don't support the book of rules as this is being used to overpower humanity. Muslims over use their religion and manipulate their book of laws every occasion they have.
Joe Xuereb
Jul 9th 2012, 12:07
As an atheist I have the privilege of seeing this sick joke from an unique perspective, and therefore differently.
Neither the woman nor the man deserve execution. Killing anything in the name of god is not an option and that includes killing animals in a certain way in order to please god. Get real! Get civilised! Get a life!
I attended a lecture yesterday where the learned speaker went on and on about the USA meddling in countries where it shouldn't. He said that America's, and the West's meddling had oil as an incentive. There is no oil in the Balkans when all hell was let loose twenty years ago. The sectarian killings in Iraq continue on a daily basis IN SPITE OF the troops presence. I hate to think what will happen when they leave. And to say that Iraq was more peaceful in Saddam's time is short-sighted and ignorant. He decimated the Kurds in the north in Halabja and all but killed off the millennial culture that was the Marsh Arabs when he drained their reasons for existing, the marshes. When I spoke to Iraqis about this at the time, their response was the Marsh Arabs are
dirty, presumably because they live in wicker houses made of reeds, and they live and fish and go about in wicker boats, eking out a life among the marsh-reeds. What could be more 'romantic' and environmentally sane than that?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marsh_Arabs
I am sick and tired of America and the West condemning the atrocities in Syria but have no backup from countries that could made a difference. And other detractors who go on and about about the 9/11 horror being an American conspiracy. Which would imply that Britain's own 9/11, the 7/7 of some years ago, and the one in Madrid, and others - are they all conspiracies too?
The trouble with these societies is that their view of women is so distorted (and justified from on high they think) that paradoxically, they do not like women particularly. A woman is seen as mere chattel, a child-bearing machine and otherwise to keep home and hearth going for the comfort of her 'purċinell'. He spends his time in the cafe` idly passing the time of day with his cronies all the while justifying their miserable existence and how to uphold it. In this atmosphere any rights won for women are indeed under threat - as in this case. Young girls fare no better. And young boys too it seems. I have a video - very brave of the people who made it and very stupid of the Afghani men who colluded - which shows young boys dressed in girls clothes and being made to sing and dance for the adult males entertainment. Presumably they pay them pennies and food. And there may be payment in kind of a more intimate nature I shouldn't wonder. The boys dont like it but have no choice. One does not argue with an adult Afghani male.
We dont do these things in the West where women are free. Men in the West are not perfect but at least we do not abuse boys because we are not allowed to have that most natural of things, a woman (and sadly, I know that many in Malta do not approve of the freedom of women for much the same reasons). When men are deprived of women by decree from on high, all hell is let loose. With atrocities and vain promises of rewards for executing - literally their atrocities. These are tribal mentalities and they are not healthy. Look around you for proof.
I have not seen the video clip at this stage because I did not want it to influence my thinking (as if it would!). But the article did say that this woman's execution, typically, was a public spectacle to 'enjoy'. This included the presence of children. Indoctrination - surprise! surprise! - starts early wherever religion is concerned. In Malta we expose babies to the very realistic execution of a man with a crown of thorns on his head. Horrific!
But hey! it is tradition. Like firework manufacture (one dead this week) and the killing of birds. It is a cruel world out there alright! What has this to do with the issue under discussion?! It is called lateral thinking, and the knock-on effect of everything do think and do. With consequences.
Bill Khan
Jul 10th 2012, 12:45
@Joe Xuereb,
You say you did not see the video. neither have i and we are not sure if the it is genuine and not mereley tio show the Talibans in a bad way in the eyes of western public. The public which is demanding that the US/British/ NATo troops should withdraw from Afganistan.
You have talked about the evil of religion by mentioning the loss of life in fireworks displays and the indoctrination of children with ;realistic showing of the execution of a man with crown of thorns on his head.
Mr. Xuereb we have to do that to show to the children the scarifice of a persoanlity who preached love and tolerance. Would you rather we showed the young children the executions of millions of babies every year to mainatin the freedom of the woman in our countries. And the same we are trying to achieve in all parts of the world under our aeteist (some would say satanic) agenda. Do we also tell the childern how 1.1 million Iraqi children were executed by the US/British imposed sanctions. And how and why paedophiles are free to roam our streets and why so many young children disappeare off our streets every year. Do we tell them that Benjamin Franklin's home when excavated was found to contain the remains of ten young children there. It is alleged he was part of a satanic worshipping group involved in the abuse and sacrifice rituals.
MR. Xuereb, religion is a way of life which does not subscribe to such rituals of scarifice and execution of millions of babies in the wombs of their mother ellegedly the safest of all places for a baby.
One is glad to say you are just an aetheist. But ouit there there are more than a few people with satanic agenda who love to see the worship of god to disappeare and replaced by the worship of the goat with horns.
Robert Callus
Jul 9th 2012, 12:06
"We cannot forgive her, God tells us to finish her."
The brutes are also blaspheming. Every practicing Muslim says, on a daily basis "There is not God but Allah and Mohammed is his messanger".
Mohammed, the prophet, is the messanger, not Mullah Omar or the Taliban. Neither were they appointed by anyone except for themselves to execute here.
Poor sods, they cannot forgive here! So what? Shouldn't it be up to God whether he forgives her or not? By their actions they are declaring they are God himself, which is needless to say, blasphemy.
P. Vincenti
Jul 9th 2012, 12:00
This is revolting. How very very disturbing and medieval.
What of the man who was involved in this so called adultery? What was he guilty of? I am not suggesting that he also should be murdered but how is it that this poor woman pays such a price for a crime that involved at least one other person.
What barbarians.
Charles Micallef
Jul 9th 2012, 12:00
Thousands of lives lost and billions of pounds spend trying to educate the Taliban and this is the result, it makes one sick to even think that all is lost!
Victor Laiviera
Jul 9th 2012, 11:54
Nothing is as frightening as people convinced they are acting in the name of God - or as potentially cruel.
James Tyrrell
Jul 9th 2012, 11:48
We should pull all our troops out of this excuse for a country and then drop a few atomic bombs on the place. The world would be a far better place without Afghanistan.
Joe Spiteri Gauci
Jul 9th 2012, 11:22
Imbaghad issib min ghid illi l-Islam u ahjar mil Kristjanezmu.... halluna
Ian Mamo
Jul 9th 2012, 12:09
Li jghidu huwa : L-Islam huwa aktar ideddicat mil Kristjanezmu.
Rita D'Amato
Jul 9th 2012, 11:22
how unlucky to be born a female in these countries!!! so the men are free to do what they want there & poor women have to abide by the so called laws!! umbad kif tista ma tkunx razzist?????
John Xuereb
Jul 9th 2012, 10:59
2,000 years ago Christ said: "who is without any sins can throw the first stone"
I can't find any more words.....
Kevin Cassar
Jul 9th 2012, 10:57
"As she sits with her back to the crowd a bearded man is seen reading verses from the Koran condemning adultery, before saying: "We cannot forgive her, God tells us to finish her."
Funny how "God" always seems to somehow, tell people EXACTLY what they want to hear. (Yes, I am being sarcastic). Maybe someday, hopefully soon, the world will wake up and evolve into an intelligent species.
Franco Farrugia
Jul 9th 2012, 11:15
Mr Cassar, you need some lessons in logic.
Franco Farrugia
Jul 9th 2012, 11:18
The guy who killed so many people in Sweden, said he did this because of his political beliefs. Shall we also throw out political science, philosophy, etc??? Just because man abuses of something does not mean that we have to put all guilt on that something that has been abused. Has 'atheism' (a' la Maltaise!) never been abused in this manner? As I said, you should go and learn some Logic.
C. Bajada
Jul 9th 2012, 11:38
... and Franco should learn some proper facts. Breivik 'the guy who killed so many people' did that in Norway not Sweden.
Mario Borg
Jul 9th 2012, 13:16
@ Franco Farrugia
This was not a lone executioner. This was the implementation of Sharia law by the village elders.
Fundamentalism is wrong in any form, whether Christian, Islamic, Hindu or whatever. No one has the prerogative to claim they have a God given right to punish others if they don't live their lives according to their 'rules'.
As this video testifies Islamic fundamentalism is particularly dangerous and when one considers it is often a minority which forces Sharia law on others I find it the whole thing very troubling.
Charles Grixti
Jul 9th 2012, 13:53
@Franco Farrugia
U hallina, you are mixing apples and oranges. The study of political science and philosophy has nothing in common with Islam and what it produces. The killer in Sweden was not motivated by a God that told him to kill unblievers, condemn and execute women. Everyone should make an effort to learn more facts about the daily atrocities of this religion on this web site : jihadwatch.org - including the killing of Christians in Sudan and Nigeria to name just a few, most of which goes either unreported or undereported by Western Media, including the recent video showing the beheading of a Muslim convert to Christianity right in our own backyard - just some sixty miles from Malta, thanks to the Arab Spring in the newly 'liberated' Tunisa.
The Taliban are not just 'one man' but a whole army of self-satisfied, savage, women hating fanatics that feed on the Koran and blood. Most are illiterate but carry big guns. But I bet we will not hear the Bishops or the JRS condemn these acts.
John Vella
Jul 9th 2012, 10:53
Amazing what men can do, in the name of god. I'm an atheist and proud of it.
There are 3000 religions and I'm one religion short than people like these.
Rocco Camilleri
Jul 9th 2012, 11:57
@ John Vella:
It's up to you whether you believe or not. What I can state is that there is a Religion and there is a Religion. This only shows that our Religion 'Chatolic' never says so !! Infact when Jesus Christ was faced with an 'Adultery' and asked him whether they should stone her he answered to them ' If noone has a sin, he will be the one to stone her. But noone did because all had something as we all do. Only 'GOD' has not. One should be careful when commenting/writing because he might be scandalising others and we have to face the music later - at the end . Nowadays it seems that nothing is wrong and perhaps what should be Wrong we are making it Right or not condem which is nearly the same.
Joseph Gerada
Jul 9th 2012, 10:47
The ignorance, the inhumainty....makes you sick
A Cachia
Jul 9th 2012, 11:20
......things religions make you do...
Rocco Camilleri
Jul 9th 2012, 12:02
@ A.Cachia:
To be fair mention which ' RELIGIONS' .
Bernard Manduca
Jul 9th 2012, 10:47
What fate the Taliban commander she is supposed to have committed adultery with? Does he get shot or does he go on to the next one with impunity?
Rocco Camilleri
Jul 9th 2012, 10:43
What about the Taliban Commander who joined in her actions. ????? There should be no two weights and two measures ! ! by the same reason he should be executed as well. This is not Justice at all.
Charles Zammit
Jul 9th 2012, 10:34
What sub human lowlife .
Alfred Cassar
Jul 9th 2012, 10:33
God bless her soul.
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