Afghan murder protest

ALMOST 800 Afghan men and women from Dandenong marched for justice in Melbourne last week.
Afghan Women’s Organisation Victoria organised a rally to demand justice and take a stand against violence after a group of men beat young woman Farkhunda to death in Kabul, Afghanistan, on 19 March.
The group’s president, Gula Bezhan, was thrilled with the large group that gathered outside Parliament House on Sunday 29 March.
“The number was very good. I can’t believe it, I thought it would be maybe 300 or 400,” she said.
The Berwick woman, who works at Dandenong settlement service Catholic Care, said many Australians associated all Afghan people with ISIS.
“We want to send a message to all of the community. We want justice. We want to show that we are against violence,” Ms Bezhan said.
“Afghan women want to tell the world that they are for Islam, peace, justice and human rights.”
Farkhunda had told a mullah selling charms to women at a shrine that he was not supposed to sell what was holy.
Men accused her of burning the Koran and hit her with pieces of timber, stomped on her, drove over her and dragged her body with a car before setting it on fire.
“The brutal murder of Farkhunda is proof how the fanatics misuse Islam to supress women,” Ms Bezhan said.
“What has happened is against Islam and humanity.”
– CASEY NEILL