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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| Afghan gang rape: Seven men given death sentences | Afghan gang rape: Seven men given death sentences |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Seven Afghan men have been sentenced to death for gang rape in a case that has sparked national outrage. | Seven Afghan men have been sentenced to death for gang rape in a case that has sparked national outrage. |
| The men were found guilty of kidnapping and attacking four women who were returning to Kabul after a wedding in August. | The men were found guilty of kidnapping and attacking four women who were returning to Kabul after a wedding in August. |
| Two of the men protested their innocence, saying they committed robbery but not rape. | |
| Afghan President Hamid Karzai had been among those who called for the men to be executed, amid national anger. | Afghan President Hamid Karzai had been among those who called for the men to be executed, amid national anger. |
| Activists say violence against women is prevalent in Afghanistan, but rarely attract this much attention. | Activists say violence against women is prevalent in Afghanistan, but rarely attract this much attention. |
| Human Rights Watch said that many women in Afghanistan who reported rapes to police ended up being arrested for adultery. | |
| 'Gun on my head' | 'Gun on my head' |
| The men were said to have carried out the attack 23 August. | |
| Police said the men were wearing police uniforms when they stopped a convoy of cars, pulled out four of the women, and robbed and attacked them. | |
| At least one of the victims had to spend a week in hospital following the attack. Another is reported to be pregnant. | |
| The trial on Sunday lasted two and a half hours. | |
| The men were given death sentences for the offence of armed robbery, and 15-year prison sentences for the rapes. | |
| The judge said the men could appeal against their sentences, AFP news agency reported. | |
| One victim told the court: "We went to Paghman with our families. On the way back, they took us, one of them put his gun on my head, the other one took all our jewellery, and the rest started what you already know." | One victim told the court: "We went to Paghman with our families. On the way back, they took us, one of them put his gun on my head, the other one took all our jewellery, and the rest started what you already know." |
| Kabul police chief Zahir Zahir said that the men, who were arrested on 3 September, "confessed to their crime within two hours of their arrest". | Kabul police chief Zahir Zahir said that the men, who were arrested on 3 September, "confessed to their crime within two hours of their arrest". |
| However, some rights activists have expressed concern at how quickly the trial was conducted. | |
| Patricia Gossman, senior Afghan researcher at Human Rights Watch, tweeted: "Heinous crime should not mean suspending due process rights. Where is rule of law?" |