JINHA

NEWS CENTER – Actors in Kabul held a street theater performance on Monday to remember slain woman Farkhunda, who has become a symbol of women’s resistance in the country.

40 days after a mob brutally killed 27-year-old Farkhunda based on claims that she had burned a Qur’an, actors held a theater performance in which after her death, Farkhunda rises from the ashes. First the group of men beat Farkhunda, pour gasoline over her, and bury her in ashes. The events reenact Farkhunda’s real death, images of which have become iconic through Afghans’ women’s protests over the last 40 days. However, at the end of the performance, Farkhunda rises from the ashes and joins hands with women.

The presence of policeman at the theater performance was a painful reminder that Afghan police watched while Farkhunda was killer. Later, Kabul police chief Hashmat Stanekzai made social media statements saying her killing was justified. Intelligence officer Sharaf Baghlani also admitted without apparent shame to taking part in the mob killing. At least 48 have been arrested in the case, but the government refuses to release their names.

Leena Alam played the role of Farkhunda in the performance, which was organized by the Justice for Farkhunda Committee. Leena told the New York Times that preparing for the role was difficult for her. She and her fellow actors often cried during rehearsals. She watched the video of the killing repeatedly to prepare.

“I kept thinking how powerful and brave she was, and she never ever cried, bearing all that pain, with so many attacks,”said Leena.

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