Afghan Nixes Death Sentences for Stoning

An appeal heard in a closed court has overturned death sentences for four of the men who stoned and burned a young Afghan woman to death after falsely accusing her of burning a Quran. According to local reports, the death sentences were lessened to 20-year prison terms. Another man—reportedly the one who incited the violence—is said to have been acquitted. Farkhunda Malikzada was stoned to death, run over by a car, and set on fire in a case that sparked international outrage.