Afghan Women Defy Mullahs To Bury Murdered Girl

[Skidmore]

Please note that there is a very graphic description of the violence against the victim of this horrific crime. The courage of these women who insisted that she be remembered and respected in death must be honored.

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2015/03/23/afghan-women-defy-mullahs-to-bury-murdered-girl.html?via=desktop&source=facebook

A band of 30 Afghan women carried the body of murdered student Farkhunda through the streets of Kabul yesterday, defying the girl's murderers in order to give her a proper burial. They speak to The Daily Beast about their immense act of courage.
Yesterday, a courageous band of about 30 Afghan women, many of them clad in black scarves and some in black outfits, did something remarkable: they literally shouldered the young woman beaten and burned to death by a mob in Kabul, carrying upon their shoulders her heavy wooden coffin, draped with an ornate green cloth, decorated with verses from the Quran. Bouquets of flowers, still in their clear plastic, lay upon the covering.

Last Thursday afternoon, scores of clean-shaven men, wearing neat pants and shirts for a visit to the Shah-Do Shamshira mosque, or the “The King of Two Swords,” in downtown Kabul, Afghanistan, turned into a violent mob, shouting “Allahu Akbar” and beating and stomping a student of Islam, Farkhunda, 28, on the false rumor she had burnt a Quran....more

[Arkansas Granny]

1. What a powerful story.

[sheshe2]

2. Tears are streaming down my face.

She adds: “That is what Farkhunda teaches me: together we can change the narrative that others write about women. We stood up against the most respected mullah. We carried the coffin and buried her. If we as women stand together, we can achieve a great change.”

As they resisted the mullah’s efforts to say a prayer, the women performed one more courageous act of resistance: they interlocked hands and created a circle around Farkhunda’s gravesite, until the mullah—with his regressive ideas—departed.

30 courageous woman brought Farkhunda to her final resting place. My heart breaks for them all.

[Skidmore]

4. These women's action only puts in stark relief the

absence of moral authority of the "respected mullah" and the men who stood by while the mob murdered this poor girl. I do think that when women find courage, change is not far behind. These 30 women have more character and courage than whole armies.

[sheshe2]

5. I agree with you on their moral corage, Skidmore.

[whathehell]

9. +100 nt

[progressoid]

3. Courageous indeed.

Let's hope more people step up and support these women.

[joeybee12]

6. Really puts into perspective the bravery some people must endure

to do what is right...I cannot praise these women enough.

[shenmue]

7. Mercy

May she rest in peace.

[Rex]

8. Wow, incredibly powerful statement. All this over male machismo!

Peal away the outer layers and at the core of the patriarchy lies the sacrosanct male machismo. The combination of ego and pride; devastates nations and untold numbers of families. Stomps the life out of the innocent and downtrodden. Mix it with religion or nationalism and it usually leads to war with other machismos.

RIP Farkhunda, you were too good for this world at this time. We are still barbaric to the core.

[Dont call me Shirley]

10. Farkhunda...

[Guy Whitey Corngood]

11. K&R. nt

[cwydro]

12. K and R.

[Liberal_in_LA]

13. picture of the women pallbearers carrying the coffin

[Skidmore]

22. Thanks for adding that.

I tried to but couldn't get it to work. I thought it had something to do with the way the site was set up.

[riderinthestorm]

14. So incredibly brave. I just hope they aren't marked for death now as well

[Liberal_in_LA]

15. that crossed my mind as well.

[Delmette]

16. if they are marked...

Then they are the only true martyrs for their religion. (Just my uneducated emotional opinion.)

[blackspade]

17. More mob violence against women based on bullshit.

Do religious people check their brains at the fucking door?

[cwydro]

18. Another kick.

What bravery.

[prayin4rain]

19. Brave, brave women. n/t

[Ken Burch]

20. It's only acts like this that can defeat religious extremism.

Military intervention, as we've seen since 2003, can never do so.

[riderinthestorm]

21. late night kick nt