Afghan Woman Executed in Public Caught on Film, Troops Searching for Killers
Authorities are searching for Taliban militants responsible for publicly executing a woman accused of adultery. The execution was caught on film by a bystander, and public outrage has led President Hamid Karzai to condemn the murder and order troops to find those responsible.
The video of 22-year-old Najiba's death was caught on film and shows a cheering crowd surrounding the young woman. She was accused of adultery with a Taliban commander and shot for the allegation.
"Within one hour they decided that she was guilty and sentenced her to death," explained Roshna Khalid, spokeswoman for governor Basir Salangi, told AFP. "They shot her in front of villagers in her village, Qol."
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"Let's be clear, this wasn't justice," General John Allen said in a public statement. "This was murder and an atrocity of unspeakable cruelty. The Taliban's continued brutality toward innocent civilians, particularly women, must be condemned in the strongest terms."
"There has been too much progress made by too many Afghans, especially on the part of women, for this kind of criminal behavior to be tolerated," he added.
Afghan President Hamid Karzai also condemned the murder, and said it was "disgusting and unforgivable." He has ordered troops to locate those responsible for the murder and promised that justice will be served.
"Murdering a woman who did not even have a voice for defending herself is a sign of coward-ness and such a crime is unforgivable in Islam and the country's laws," Karzai said.
The video has quickly grown in views across the globe and will be used as evidence when those responsible are brought to justice. In the video, Najiba can be seen sitting on the ground, completely surrounded by men.
"We cannot forgive her. God tells us to finish her," one man can be heard saying in the video. "Allahu akhbar (God is great)" another says before firing 13 shots, killing Najiba instantly.
General Allen has promised to fully support the Afghan government in its search for the murderers.
