JINHA

NEWS CENTER –Hearings have begun against 49 suspects in the killing of Kabul woman Farkhunda, killed by a mob after claims that she burned the Qur'an.

Hearings started yesterday against the 49 men. Today's hearing has now begun for the murder of the woman who has become a symbol of women's resistance in Afghanistan.

19 of the men on trial are police, but they are only being charged with neglecting their duties, although there are reports that they participated directly in the attack. The court read the charges against 10 suspects yesterday and heard their testimony. Some suspects yesterday testified that they had indeed believed the claims about Farkhunda; two others said that they had confessed under torture.

The judge called for Afghanistan's internal minister and Kabul's police chief to attend today's trial. He also called for the arrest of a policeman who allegedly let a suspect go free in the case.

The hearings are being broadcast live on Afghan national television.

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