Afghan students hold candlelight vigil after Kabul woman lynched for 'blasphemy'

New Delhi, Mar. 26 (ANI): Afghan students in the national capital held a candlelight vigil to protest against the lynching of a Kabul woman, who fell prey to false implications of blasphemy.

According to reports, the woman was beaten to death after rumours emerged of her having allegedly burnt a Quran.

Marjana, who is studying in the Jawaharlal Nehru University, stated that 80 percent of the women in Afghanistan live in a 'deplorable' situation, urging the government in Kabul and the international community to take necessary step to reach out to them.

"We have come together in condolence to the woman and her family, as well as the thirteen travellers, who were killed by terrorists on the way from Ghazni to Kabul. We also want justice for the 31 people who were kidnapped by the ISIS in Afghanistan," she said.

"We want justice and want an end to the violence in Afghanistan. We no longer want to live in violence," she added.

Omar Sadr, who studies in the South Asian University, appealed to the Ashraf Ghani-led government to not allow the mullahs to not use religion for fundamentalist ideas.

"Most Afghans have shown that they are against violence. We want change and these kinds of incidents are completely against humanity and should end as soon as possible. However, we should recognise that it is the legacy of conflict that lasted for 40 years in the country," he said.

"The Government of Afghanistan should take necessary steps, not only through a direct, legal approach, which is hanging and punishing the criminals, but also to work with the people to change their culture, to teach them peace and to teach them tolerance through formal as well as informal education system," he added.

Meanwhile, Hasmeet felt that religious fundamentalism is an issue that needs to be taken up seriously by the Afghan government.

"Fundamentalism is a major issue in Afghanistan. It is still functioning in some parts of the country, and is definitely an issue which the government needs to take seriously. It is a kind of epidemic issue in terms of politics, economics and the social culture in Afghanistan," he said.

Earlier this week, the lynching of the Afghan woman drew worldwide criticism after the attack on her was captured on a mobile phone and posted on social media.